Man jailed for claw hammer attack

A man who attacked a stranger with a claw hammer has been jailed for four years.

The attack by Bloods gang member Clayton Temepo, 20, was described by Judge James Weir as "vicious" when he sentenced Temepo in Rotorua District Court this week.

Temepo had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Judge Weir said it was a "serious" assault and noted Temepo was a member of the Bloods gang with 17 previous convictions - mostly for serious assaults and threatening to kill.

The attack happened in Turangi on April 23 when the victim, who did not wish to be named, was walking to a supermarket to buy a toothbrush.

While on his way to the supermarket the man saw Temepo standing near a reserve about 200m away with his back to him, the Daily Post reported.

Moments later the victim noticed Temepo holding a claw hammer - but it was too late, he said.

"By the time I was on his right shoulder, he swung the hammer coming towards my head," he said.

The man partly deflected it. But the round part of the hammer struck him on the forehead and the claws of the hammer struck his face, raking along his cheek, causing two large cuts requiring two layers of stitches.

Temepo struck again as the victim partly fell.

"I just lifted my left arm. I was very lucky I got most of the impact on my left hand," he said.

"In the moment he hit me, I knew this was serious...I knew this guy was going to kill me. I thought `he's really going to try to if he's got a chance'. Then I tried screaming `are you crazy?' after the blow. I repeated myself three or four times and only a few more seconds passed," he said.

The man called for help and fled to a nearby house.

He told the newspaper he had left Turangi after the attack and would never return.

Crown prosecutor Sarah-Louise Wootton said the attack was unprovoked and involved extreme violence.

Temepo had offended while on prison release conditions for another assault at the time, she said.

Defence lawyer Katherine Ewen said Temepo was remorseful and alcohol had played a major part in his offending.

- NZPA