Youth jailed over attack on taxi driver at school

A Tauranga teenager who launched a violent and unprovoked attack on a taxi driver in front of schoolchildren has been jailed for a year and eight months.

David Aaron Stephenson, 18, unemployed, had pleaded guilty to a charge of injuring with intent to injure and disorderly behaviour in circumstances likely to cause violence to start.

When he appeared for sentence in Tauranga District Court yesterday, Judge Thomas Ingram told Stephenson it was quite clear he had "a raging alcohol problem" and drug dependency. The victim impact report made "harrowing reading".

The 62-year-old taxi driver, Don Clark, had entered the carpark at Tauranga Girls' College about 3.15pm on July 24 to drop off three children at an after-school programme.

Stephenson, who was walking through the carpark, accused Mr Clark of trying to hit him with the vehicle.

He yelled, punched him, then headbutted him and stood over him as he lay unconscious on the ground.

Police who arrived at the scene had to restrain Stephenson.

Mr Clark suffered a fractured skull, eyesockets and nose; bruising to the brain, face, head and chest; concussion and two black eyes.

Still in hospital, Mr Clark could not drive and his financial losses were "a huge worry", Judge Ingram said.

Although Stephenson had had meaningful employment and done some study, he had outstanding fines of more than $9000 and previous assault and drug convictions.

A severe head injury at work in 2004 may have had something to do with Stephenson's drug and alcohol problems, the judge said.

However, people who voluntarily consumed excessive amounts of alcohol and/or drugs and caused problems for others could not use that as a mitigating factor for their offending.

He accepted that Stephenson was now remorseful and acknowledged that he had an alcohol problem.

Lawyer Matthew Ward-Johnson, said his client was ashamed and genuinely remorseful over the "horrific" attack on a man who did not even know him.

Outside the court, Mr Clark's daughter said he expected to be discharged from hospital this weekend and would be cared for by his family.

- NZPA