Home invader jailed for attack on grandmother

A man who tied up, robbed, and nearly killed a profoundly deaf 71-year-old grandmother in her home has been sent to jail for six years and eight months.

Napier man John William Taunoa, 25, was sentenced in Napier District Court yesterday after pleading guilty to aggravated robbery and burglary.

About 6.30am on July 8, Taunoa barged into the woman's two-bedroom home in a quiet cul-de-sac in the Napier suburb of Onekawa. He punched her in the face, dragged her six metres along a hallway toward her bedroom, and tied her cardigan around her face.

When she was able to pull the cardigan from her face, Taunoa tied it tighter, putting his knee into her side, breaking several of her ribs and causing severe bruising. He searched the house, eventually finding $90 in a drawer, then ran to his own house less than 500 metres away.

Taunoa's lawyer Phil Jensen said the Crown's starting point of 10 years' prison was "a pander to pure emotion", and said a six-year starting point was more realistic. Crown prosecutor Josh Lucas said Taunoa attacked a vulnerable woman and it was luck that he wasn't being sentenced for murder.

Judge Tony Adeane said Taunoa had a not insignificant history of offending. He had lived in Australia where he acquired a drug habit and had been back in New Zealand only a few months at the time of this offence.

The judge said the crime was premeditated and gratuitous and a starting point of six years was inadequate.

"The community is entitled to see the matter appropriately dealt with."

He sentenced Taunoa to six years and eight months' jail with no minimum parole period.

- © Fairfax NZ News