Pair jailed for attack at country club

Two men who attacked two people in a Gore car park were sent to jail last week.

Zac Lance Pearsey, 28, and Paul James Ashby, 26, appeared before Judge Michael Crosbie yesterday in the Invercargill District Court for sentence on assault and cannabis charges.

Pearsey was sentenced to two years and 11 months' jail and Ashby to three years and two months' jail.

Judge Crosbie said an associate of Pearsey and Ashby's confronted a man at a country club and a scuffle took place. Pearsey and Ashby left through the front door and Ashby pulled a knuckle-duster from his pocket. As the victims walked past, Pearsey and Ashby made threats, including burning their house down, before running up behind them.

One of the victims was punched in the back of the head causing him to fall to the ground, Judge Crosbie said. The victims were then punched and kicked several times. One of the victims suffered two broken teeth, a cut lip and grazes and the other suffered swelling to his face and back.

When police carried out a search warrant, an indoor cannabis growing operation was found, he said.

Pearsey was charged with wounding with intent to injure, assault with intent to injure, cultivating cannabis and possessing cannabis for the purpose of selling or offering to sell. Ashby was charged with assault using a knuckle-duster as a weapon, wounding with intent to injure, cultivating cannabis and possessing cannabis for the purpose of selling or offering to sell.

Cannabis

Kayne Michael Wright, 23, of Manapouri, was sentenced to nine months' home detention and 200 hours' community work for possessing cannabis and utensils, unlawfully possessing a firearm and offering to sell cannabis at Te Anau on May 3. The court was told there were 68 text messages on Wright's phone revealing he was dealing with cannabis and sales in the Te Anau area. A search warrant was carried out and firearms, cannabis plant and materials were found.

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