Home detention for vigilante attack

Photo / File.

A man has been sentenced in Rotorua for his part in "vigilante action'', when he and a group of friends took it upon themselves to settle a dispute between his stepsister and her partner.

The victim, who was hit on the back of the head with a wood splitter, was involved in a domestic dispute with the man's stepsister.

Garth Henderson, 27, appeared in the Rotorua District Court on a charge of injuring with intent to injure and was sentenced by Judge James Weir to nine months home detention.

The dispute between Henderson's stepsister and her partner was dealt with by police but upon hearing about it, Henderson and a co-offender decided to take matters into their own hands.

The co-offender, Paul Jason Hartley, had already been sentenced to three years in prison.

Judge Weir said Henderson and Hartley rallied troops to take part in "vigilante action'' by the use of text messaging.

A group of about nine or 10 people went to the victim's Te Poi home. Some used bandannas and scarves to disguise themselves.

Judge Weir said the group arrived at the victim's rural property about 9pm.

"People got out of the van and approached the victim who was cornered in the carport. He was then grabbed and thrown against the wall.''

Judge Weir said the victim was assaulted and several of those taking part had made threats to kill him.

"He was told that this was retaliation,'' the judge said.

Others involved in the attack also stole items from the property but Henderson was not part of that.

In sentencing Henderson, Judge Weir noted that he had a number of breaches of community work and community detention and he warned him against any further breaches of sentence.

"I need to point out to you that if you were to breach these conditions you would face a starting point of 18 months in prison. There would be no other option for you.''