Police made three arrests shortly after the home invasion, charging all three men with aggravated burglary.
One suspect, Chad Morland, of Ngawha Springs, pleaded guilty and was sentenced on October 14 to three and a half years in prison.
Judge Keith de Ridder said the trio entered the van Gaalens' home, threatened Mr van Gaalen and made him lie on the floor while they searched the house.
Mr van Gaalen managed to jump out a window, suffering facial injuries when he fell on to the deck, but was caught and forced into the garden shed while the trio took a chainsaw, laptops and a camera.
Mr van Gaalen escaped again, this time reaching his neighbour's home.
In a victim impact statement Mr van Gaalen said the attack had had a deep effect on himself, his family and neighbourhood. He had lost confidence, no longer wanted to be alone at home, and feared for the safety of his wife and children.
Judge de Ridder told the court Morland had been sentenced to supervision just three days earlier after an assault on his father's partner, but accepted he was a follower rather than a leader in the "terrifying" home invasion.
Morland was also sentenced to six months' jail for unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and one month for stealing petrol from an Omapere service station. All three terms will be served concurrently. He was convicted and discharged for driving while forbidden.
Two other men accused of taking part in the home invasion, Paul Moka and Warren Manuel, pleaded not guilty and appeared in the Kaikohe District Court on August 24 for a pre-trial hearing. They are due back in court on September 23.
Kelly van Gaalen was a member of the Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board, chair of the Kaikohe Community Arts Council and promotions manager for the Kaikohe Business Association.
