Rotorua woman's attack 'stupid violence'

The actions of a Rotorua woman who dragged a woman from a central Rotorua store and attacked her have been described by a judge as a "stupid act of gratuitous violence".

Alexandria Gemini Ngarimu, 18 (pictured below), appeared in the Rotorua District Court yesterday for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to a charge of assaulting the woman with intent to injure.

Ngarimu also previously pleaded guilty to a charge each of disorderly behaviour, intentional damage and possession of a pipe used for smoking cannabis - charges which related to a separate incident.

Judge Phillip Cooper sentenced Ngarimu to 180 hours' community work and nine months' supervision.

According to the police summary of facts, Ngarimu went into a store on Pukuatua St about 10.30am on January 11 as another woman was leaving and they started talking to each other.

Ngarimu took exception to the conversation and in a burst of rage stormed into the dairy, grabbed the victim by the hood of her sweatshirt and dragged her outside and to the side of the building.

Ngarimu punched and kicked the woman in the body several times before leaving the area.

The victim needed medical treatment.

She suffered bruising and a small wound around an embedded piercing.

Four days later Ngarimu contacted police and admitted what she had done.

She told police she had "just got angry and lost her cool".

Judge Cooper said there were earlier reports the victim was pregnant at the time of the attack but that was not the case, which was fortunate as that would have been a substantial aggravating factor.

"This was a stupid act of gratuitous violence with some intensity.

"Fortunately it did not result in any serious injury," Judge Cooper said.

The other charges related to a separate incident on December 16 when Ngarimu went to a woman's home in an extremely intoxicated state.

Ngarimu was agitated and aggressive, got out of the vehicle, ran to the front window and banged on it before returning to the car she was in.

Police arrived and arrested Ngarimu, putting her in the back seat.

Ngarimu kicked the front seat of the police car and spat all over the inside of the vehicle.

Police found a small pipe used to smoke cannabis in the pocket of Ngarimu's jeans.