KEY POINTS:
Police are looking for a carer who allegedly dragged an intellectually disabled man out of bed and kicked him on the floor during a staff party at a Levin community home.
Detective Sergeant Grayson Joines said the 47-year-old victim suffered two broken ribs and bruises and grazes.
Four people have been sacked by the home's owners.
"This was an absolutely abysmal and cowardly attack," Mr Joines told the Dominion Post.
Owing to his disability the man was unable to tell police what happened.
Police investigations showed the man had been dragged out of bed and kicked while on the floor, Mr Joines said.
The assault happened on March 23 during a staff social gathering involving alcohol.
The man was found by a staff member about 7am that day with a cut lip and tongue. He was taken to Palmerston North Hospital for treatment.
Police were looking for a man, 54, who had since been sacked by his employer, NZCare.
The agency operates 18 homes in Levin and receives taxpayer funding to care for former residents of the Kimberley Centre, a centre for intellectually disabled people closed by the Government last October.
Healthcare of New Zealand managing director Peter Hausmann said the attack was being taken very seriously.
He said an internal investigation has resulted in four experienced staff members being sacked from NZCare, including an enrolled nurse and three former Kimberley employees.
NZCare has apologised to the family of the victim and offered its support.
- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB
