Tourist attack harms West Coast image

A youth involved in a mob attack on three Dutch tourists has been told he had done irreparable damage to the West Coast's image. File photo / NZ Herald

A youth who sparked a mob attack on three Dutch tourists was told in the Greymouth District Court yesterday that he had done irreparable damage to the West Coast's image as a tourism destination.

Quaide Amtman, 17, was sentenced to 150 hours' community work and nine months' supervision after he admitted two assault charges.

The court heard the Greymouth youth struck up a cordial conversation with the visitors on the forecourt of a service station at 3am on July 31, asking them for a cigarette.

He was told the trio did not have any cigarettes but noticed a pack in one of their pockets. When he asked again he was told there was only one cigarette left and the owner was saving it for himself.

Amtman then punched the man and fled along Smith St, chased by the trio. He stopped briefly, punched another of the tourists, then ran to an Alexander Terrace address where he told four friends he had been beaten up and urged them to help him gain vengeance.

The five men returned to the service station, where the tourists were still waiting for a taxi, and set upon them, knocking one man to the ground. They concentrated their attack on him punching, kicking and hitting him with a window-washing brush. Eventually, the tourists broke free and were running up the road chased by Amtman's gang, when police arrived.

Amtman told police he retaliated after being attacked first.

Judge Paul Whitehead said Amtman had been the prime mover in the attack.

"It appals me that you would perpetrate such violence, and what's worse is that you went and got your mates to go back and do them over," the judge said.

"They would have gone home and told the people what a rotten place the West Coast of the South Island was. That can only harm every resident of the West Coast."

One of Amtman's associates, Ronald Bell, 19, had gone back to the service station to take part in the attack. He threw a number of punches and kicked the man on the ground.

Bell was a first offender but police refused to grant him diversion because of the seriousness of the incident. He was sentenced to 100 hours of community work.