A Dunedin teenager has been sent to jail for her part in a racist attack in the city on Easter Monday.
Alana Jane Robins (18), unemployed, was one of four people arrested for verbally abusing and assaulting a Korean man and his family shortly after 4pm on April 9.
Robins appeared before Judge Dominic Flatley in the Dunedin District Court yesterday and was sentenced to three months' jail when she admitted the assault.
She was also given concurrent prison terms for two thefts - of wine, and of an Apple iPad valued at $990 - on April 13, two weeks after she was sentenced to intensive supervision, judicial monitoring and community work for intentionally obstructing Constable Alana Kane on January 31, stealing wine worth $20 from a Mosgiel supermarket, as well as assaulting a 17-year-old girl and stealing medication and a set of keys from a 71-year-old man.
Intensive supervision was clearly not appropriate, the judge said. Robins had been given a "last chance" with that sentence and had not only not complied and "had no intention of doing so", but had also reoffended. Given her failure to engage and the fact of new charges, prison was now the only option.
Judge Flatley said he was concerned about the Easter Monday attack. It was a serious assault with racial overtones. The defendant clearly had no insight into her offending, her attitude perhaps indicating her immaturity.
Robins and her associates abused a 50-year-old Korean man and his family and assaulted two of them as they were walking in George St shortly after 4pm.
They followed the family, shouting racist abuse, despite twice being told by a 20-year-old male to "back off".
The defendant advanced on the 20-year-old, a student at the University of Otago, and punched him once in the head.
Two other associates also attacked the family, a young woman throwing a wine bottle which missed, and a teenage male punching the 50-year-old father in the face.
Charlene Amelia Hunt (22), unemployed, earlier admitted throwing the wine bottle and is for sentence on June 8 for Crimes Act assault.
Andrew Jayden Mercer (18), unemployed, last Friday admitted assaulting the 50-year-old victim and is for sentence on June 14.
