Provincial hockey player admits hit-and-run

A provincial hockey player has admitted a hit and run incident and an assault on a sex worker in Auckland last month.

Prasant Nathoo, 22, pleaded guilty to three charges when he appeared in Auckland District Court this week.

Nathoo admitted a charge of injuring with intent to injure in relation to the attack on the sex worker in downtown Auckland on November 20.

The woman suffered injuries to her head and body and spent some time in hospital to have her injuries attended.

Nathoo also admitted charges of reckless driving causing injury and failing to stop after a crash to see if anyone was injured in relation to the hit and run, which happened about 10 minutes after the attack on the sex worker.

Nathoo's car struck a woman as she was getting out of a taxi on Ponsonby Road, causing her a severe leg injury, and failed to stop to help her.

Detective Sergeant Jason McIntosh said the woman's leg was nearly severed. He said she had since undergone four operations but was recovering well.

Nathoo, from Auckland, played for the lower North Island side the Central Mavericks in this year's national hockey league.

He will be sentenced in April.

- NZPA