KEY POINTS:
A gang of youths is being sought after a Napier teenager was struck in the bottom by a needle fired from a passing car.
The needle pierced the young woman's jeans and burying itself three centimetres into her skin in what was described by police as an "unbelievably stupid" act.
The 18-year-old and a friend were walking on Nuffield Ave in suburban Marewa about 9pm on Saturday when a car approached from behind.
"We turned to have a look at it, but as I turned I felt a pain. I saw this needle sticking out of the top right-hand side of my butt," the victim told the Dominion Post.
The injury caused "quite a lot of bleeding".
She said she had been tested for hepatitis A, B and C and HIV and would have to be tested for HIV again in three months' time.
"What these kids did might have seemed to them like a bit of fun, but there is a chance it could have life-long consequences for me," she said.
- NZPA
