Teen locked in freezer in drug fuelled gang attack

A Rotorua teenager was bashed, threatened, locked in a freezer and had his fingertips sliced after a man believed he had ripped him off.
Jimmy Mathew Wells, 21, threatened to cut the youth's ears off after producing a knife and making him sit in a kitchen cupboard.
He took a cellphone, credit card and $10 cash from his victim.
Yesterday Wells was jailed for six years when he appeared for sentencing on two counts of kidnapping and one each of injuring with intent to injure and aggravated robbery.
His drug-fuelled attack had a serious impact on his victim, then 19, according to Judge James Weir in sentencing who said the teenager had thought he was facing death.
On May 27, 2010, Wells went to a house where the victim - his former flatmate - and several friends were drinking. As party-goers left the house Wells accused his former flatmate of ripping him off, Judge Weir said at yesterday's sentencing.
Wells stopped the teenager from leaving, blocking his way. He produced a knife and forced him to sit in a corner with his hands on his head.
Others arrived back at the house and joined Wells as he made the teenager sit in a cupboard under the kitchen sink. Wells said he would cut off the teenager's ears and forced him to hand over his cellphone, credit card and $10 cash.
The teenager was then forced into an unused chest freezer and a small fridge was placed on top to prevent him from escaping. The youth was in the freezer for about an hour before he was taken out and had a pillowcase put over his head.
He was then interrogated about the location of a gang house in Rotorua.
A woman who turned up at the house pleaded with the attackers to let the teenager go and said he was able to leave with her, but Wells then made the youth get into the boot of a car.
He was driven back to the house where he was interrogated further and locked in a wardrobe.
When he supplied Wells with the information about an address, he was driven to the property. Wells was told the police had been called and those involved ran off.
Wells' lawyer Martin Hine described the incident as "drug-fuelled, bizarre behaviour" which he said was out of character.
Judge Weir said the events took place over a 48-hour period and had a significant effect on the victim, who had thought he was going to die.
During the ordeal the victim's fingertips were sliced and he had several cuts and bruises on his body, the judge said.
"It is clear from the description of the offence that it was gang-related activity."
He said Wells had previously been involved with the Black Power gang and had been known to have previously used methamphetamine.
"You were using every morning and every night at no cost to yourself."
Judge Weir said he was aware Wells intended to change his life dramatically.
"You should be aware offending of this type has to be dealt with seriously by the court," he said.
"Anything gang-related has to be dealt with seriously. Acts of warfare crop up more regularly between gangs."
Crown prosecutor Amanda Gordon told the court Wells' offending had a big impact on his victim who was now more heavily involved in crime.
Wells was sentenced to six years' jail on the kidnapping charges, three years for the aggravated robbery and 18 months for injuring with intent to injure.
His sentences will be served concurrently with a non-parole period of three years.