Sportsman faces new charges

A provincial hockey player who was on bail after assaulting a prostitute and being involved in a hit and run is now behind bars after being arrested again this week.

After the November incidents, Prasant Nathoo, 23, had been free to continue his hockey career with the Albany Birkenhead Collegians team, much to the anger of the former body-builder he knocked down who has been told she may never walk again.

It is understood Nathoo was arrested on Monday at the BP service station on Northcote Rd which his parents own.

Police spokesman Kevin Loughlin said Nathoo had breached bail. He appeared in the North Shore District Court on Tuesday charged with wilful damage, using threatening language, possession of an offensive weapon and demanding with intent to steal and was remanded in custody to appear next week for a bail application.

Nathoo was due to be sentenced next Thursday after pleading guilty to reckless driving causing injury and failing to stop after a crash to see if anyone was injured. The charges relate to a November 20 hit-and-run, at 4.20am on Ponsonby Rd, 10 minutes after Nathoo had attacked a 43-year-old prostitute. He has also been convicted of injuring the prostitute with intent.

Lynette Kilmartin, 36, had just stepped out of a taxi when she was hit by Nathoo's car and thrown several metres down the road and knocked unconscious. Her leg was almost severed below the knee.

Nathoo's vehicle was found abandoned in Herne Bay and Nathoo was located at a North Shore address and arrested.

Ms Kilmartin, an aerobics instructor and body-builder until her accident, said she was pleased Nathoo was behind bars but was annoyed it took him being arrested again for that to happen.

She spent two months recuperating in hospital and has been in and out ever since.