Teen jailed for beating policeman

A teenager who bashed an off-duty policeman outside a Hastings party has been jailed for 5 1/2 years.

City Charles Timu, 17, was sentenced in Hastings District Court yesterday for causing grievous bodily harm to Napier Detective Sergeant Dan Foley, the Dominion Post reported.

Mr Foley, 51, was on his way to pick up his daughter from a party when he stopped to break up a fight by a group of youths on October 11.

He was then attacked by Timu and was left lying in the gutter in a pool of blood, with a smashed eye socket, bleeding brain and severe cuts.

He spent a week in intensive care in Hawke's Bay Hospital but has since returned to work.

At the time of the attack Timu was on bail for assaulting a female. He fled the scene but was found the next day and arrested.

Judge Tony Adeane said Timu was an aimless, unemployed youth who was dependent on his girlfriend for her benefit.

He lacked remorse for the attack and saw Mr Foley's injuries as something to be proud of.

Mr Foley said Timu's sentence was appropriate "given that I will be feeling the effects for some time".

- NZPA