Man who punched teacher outside Rotorua Intermediate School still evading police

Sheldon Tawhiti-Ormsby. Photo / File

A man who admitted to punching a Rotorua teacher is still on the run from police.

Sheldon Tawhiti-Ormsby, 18, from Rotorua, hit a Rotorua Intermediate teacher outside school and knocked him unconscious.

Tawhiti-Ormsby was due to be sentenced earlier this month in the Rotorua District Court but did not show up. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

The Ministry of Justice confirmed this morning the warrant was still active.

Tawhiti-Ormsby pleaded guilty in March to assaulting Alasdair Hay at school pick-up on February 27.

Hay, a teacher of 20 years, was punched in the face and sprained his ankle as he fell to the ground, chipping the bone.

Principal Garry de Thierry had initially hoped Hay would be back in a week, then later at the start of Term 2, but Hay's continued concussion symptoms have left him unable to return to work.

If you know where Tawhiti-Ormsby is, contact Rotorua police on (07) 348 0099 or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on (0800 555 111). Ring 111 if it's an emergency.