Man jailed for Queenstown assault had Australian conviction

Robert Michael Mangan was sentenced to 21 months' prison in the Queenstown District Court. Photo / File

A British man brutally attacked a tourist in Queenstown less than six weeks after being convicted of a similar offence in Australia.

Robert Michael Mangan (25) was sentenced to 21 months' prison in the Queenstown District Court yesterday for what Judge Christina Cook described as a ''serious, cowardly attack''.

Mangan had admitted a charge of injuring Aaron Geoffrey Rice-Williams with intent to injure during the incident in the resort's CBD on January 31 this year.

The court heard that Mangan had been convicted and given a two year suspended sentence in a New South Wales court on December 16 on a charge of reckless grievous bodily harm arising from a fight in a Sydney bar in 2012.

A presentence report stated a warrant for his arrest was issued after he failed to complete the terms of his probation by leaving Australia two days after the conviction.

Mangan received a New Zealand working holiday visa after failing to declare the conviction.

Immigration New Zealand general manager John Ivil told the Otago Daily Times Mangan applied online for the visa on December 23.

The application was approved the following day.

''Mr Mangan failed to declare any previous convictions on his application form as required,'' Mr Ivil said.

''The department only became aware of his conviction as a result of the New Zealand court case.''

At yesterday's sentencing, the court heard how Mr Rice-Williams, an Australian tourist, was eating a burger in Church St about 2.30am when he got into an argument with Mangan. Both men were moderately intoxicated.

The victim made a final comment and walked away, at which point Mangan punched him twice in the back of the head.

The second blow knocked the victim unconscious, causing him to fall and strike his head on the pavement.

As the victim lay face down and motionless, Mangan punched him twice more in the head. Mr Rice Williams lay unconscious for about 30 seconds, and concerned onlookers placed him in the foetal position.

In his victim impact statement, Mr Rice Williams said he spent a night in hospital with concussion, a deep gash in his forehead, blood and fluid leaking from one ear, and widespread bruising to his face and neck.

He had no recollection of the incident, and the concussion had prevented him from undertaking activities he had planned for his visit. He was angry about the attack and wanted Mangan sent to prison.

Judge Cook said the attack involved a ''high level of violence'' and was aggravated by the defendant attacking the victim from behind and targeting his head.

CCTV footage showed the defendant ''continuing to strike the victim when he was lying face down and prone on the pavement''.

''This was a serious, cowardly attack and society deserves to be protected from Mr Mangan.''

She declined a request by counsel Sonia Vidal for a combination of a community detention and community work sentence to allow the defendant to continue his employment as an electrician.

Mangan was convicted, and in addition to the term of imprisonment, ordered to pay the victim $2500 reparation for emotional harm.

He will be deported at the end of his prison sentence.