KEY POINTS:
A teenager's "cowardly assault" on another youth in the streets of central Christchurch brought a strong rebuke from the judge who sentenced him today.
Thomas William Chan, 18, even got told off for taking a "gap year" after school while he decides on a career.
Christchurch District Court Judge Christopher Somerville told him: "Instead of sponging off your family you should be working or studying".
He sentenced Chan to 120 hours of community work after he pleaded guilty to the assault charge.
Permission was granted to convert the community work into training. A restorative justice conference had already been held.
Police prosecutor Trudi Aickin told the court Chan was with a group heading into the city on the 10.50pm bus from Riccarton on November 8 when he got into a verbal altercation with another youth he did not know.
When they got off at the Bus Exchange, Chan's group formed a semi-circle around the other youth and were abusing him.
The youth walked away along Colombo Street but Chan followed him and punched him, and the associates then joined in.
The victim had a broken tooth which needed hospital treatment.
"This was a cowardly assault," said Judge Somerville.
"There were a number of you involved and your friends held this person while you hit him.
"He was prevented from defending himself by your associates so that without any consequences you could mash his face up."
He said if the behaviour was out of character, Chan had to know that he was a dangerous person when he drank, so he better stop it.
Defence counsel John O'Connell said that Chan had written a letter of apology and offered to make amends - an offer that had been declined.
He was a keen skier and was considering a possible career as a ski patroller involving travel overseas.
He said the youth was remorseful and ashamed of what had happened.
- NZPA
