Attack destroys couple's dreams

An elderly couple whose campervan was attacked at Warrington in May had dreamed of spending their retirement years travelling the coast of New Zealand and fishing , Judge Emma Smith said in the Dunedin District Court yesterday.

But the couple no longer had the confidence to travel the way they wanted to. And the woman remained scared in their home.

"That's what you have done to them," the judge told four males convicted of criminal damage.

Gary Michael Davies (20), unemployed, of Karitane, Jamie Moses Ngaamo (24), employed, Marc Weir Mitchell (24), casual part-time worker, and Darryl Johnathon Wadsworth (18) had admitted intentionally damaging a Toyota Dyna campervan, on May 16.

Sentencing Davies, Ngaamo and Mitchell to jail, and Wadsworth to home detention, the judge described the attack as "complete and sustained".

The victims were aged 73 and 76, she said.

"It was their very first trip in their dream campervan," she told the four defendants. "They talk of the distress of the attack, how frenzied it was, their vulnerability and how frightened they were."

Damage to the campervan totalled $17,250. Other costs for the victims were ongoing medical difficulties, lack of sleep and physiological ramifications, the judge said.

The judge acknowledged all four defendants had been prepared to undergo restorative justice. But she said, "not surprisingly", the victims did not wish to attend.

"They would like to see you go to prison," she said, commenting that she did not think them spiteful.

Probation also recommended imprisonment, on the basis the offending was so serious it warranted jail.

Counsel Louise Garthwaite submitted Davies had not been in any trouble since May. He had been living with family members for the past six months and had dissociated himself from those with whom he had got into trouble.

Davies was struggling with the fact only four people were in court "when he says there were 20 involved". He had written letters of apology.

Counsel Mike Newell said Ngaamo accepted his role. He was one of a large group "of which these are the ones being prosecuted".

The incident originally began as ill-considered high jinks - rocking the van, he said. Ngaamo's role was really in the initial stages. A family man with three children and a partner of long-standing, he was motivated to address the issues underlying his offending.

Counsel Anne Stevens submitted Mitchell's pre-sentence report made reference to remorse and empathy for the victims. He had written a letter of apology to police and was willing to meet his share of reparation.