Youth admits 'revenge' attack on Corrections officer

A 17-year-old attacked a Corrections Officer by delivering a vicious round-house kick to his cheek, before punching him repeatedly. File photo / NZ Herald

A 17-year-old launched a serious revenge attack on a Corrections Department staff member because he claimed he was being unfairly treated, Christchurch District Court was told today.

Junior Puia, from Auckland, was remanded in custody for sentence next month after admitting intentionally injuring the staff member

Judge Jane McMeeken described the unprovoked attack as "an appalling piece of offending" and urged Puia to think about his behaviour and arrange to apologise to the victim.

Police prosecutor Bronwen Skea said the staff member was responsible for managing Puia's behaviour while he was in custody in Christchurch and had occasion to take disciplinary action against him a number of times.

"Puia conspired with other residents to seek revenge," she said.

The attack took place after a game of volleyball at a gymnasium on June 4, when Puia went up to the seated victim and delivered a vicious round-house kick to his cheek, and then punched him repeatedly.

Another youth joined in the attack before the officer was rescued by other staff.

The officer was left with a bleeding nose, a cut to the cheek, a cut inside his mouth, a broken tooth which had to be extracted, and bruising to his face and body.

Puia told the police he had been angry at the victim because he felt he was being unfairly treated.

Defence counsel Serina Bailey asked for a home detention report to be prepared as part of the probation report before sentencing on July 21.

She said she would seek Puia's release on home detention to live with his parents in Auckland.

- NZPA