Youth sentenced for attack on disabled men

A 15-year-old youth who took part in a vicious attack on three vulnerable victims was sentenced to home detention in the Invercargill District Court yesterday.

Riki James Barratt, appeared before Judge Kevin Phillips for sentence on two charges of aggravated robbery and one of injuring with intent to injure at Blenheim on July 10.

The court was told Barratt was part of a six-strong group, of two adults and four youths, that attacked three men, two of whom were intellectually impaired and the other physically disabled.

A person of Barratt's age is usually dealt with in Youth Court jurisdiction but the seriousness of the offending meant the judge ruled the matter be settled in the District Court.

Barratt was sentenced to eight months' home detention with his Southland family, but it came with a stern warning from the judge. "Right above your head is a sword. You breach the terms of home detention and it comes down."

The offending began when the group demanded money and cigarettes from the victims. When they refused, the group set about kicking and punching a man in a mobility scooter, he said.

When the younger of the two victims, who had run to alert the police, returned he was also attacked and thrown into the nearby river, he said.

Barratt, with some of his younger companions, then went into the town centre and confronted another intellectually impaired man, asked him for cigarettes and if he wanted "to smoke weed with them", he said.

They led him back to the same bridge and kicked and stomped on him, took his jacket, cash and cellphone.

When the man tried to resist, he was attacked again and knocked unconscious, Judge Phillips said.

The court was told Barratt had started that fight because he didn't like the man and he was staring.

"Words fail me that a young man could become involved in that."

- © Fairfax NZ News