Drug debt led to assault

A customer who ran up a $5500 drug debt was kidnapped, repeatedly punched, beaten with a length of timber, and forced to hand over his car by the ``heavies'' employed to collect the money, a court was told today.

James Arthur Mathew William Brown, 43 and Trinity Elijah Duffy, 26, pleaded guilty in the High Court at Christchurch to kidnapping the victim and endangering his safety to get the payment.

Brown also admitted intentionally injuring him.

They were remanded in custody for sentencing on April 15.

Justice Christine French called for pre-sentence reports and ruled out home detention.

Two others are due to stand trial over the same incident in June.

Police said alleged methamphetamine and cannabis dealers used Brown and Duffy as ``heavies'' to find the victim and persuade him, by force if necessary, to pay the debt or hand over property.

The victim was persuaded to go to the alleged dealers' property at Rangiora in the early hours of June 30.

After an hour, he tried to leave but was confronted by Brown and Duffy on the roadside.

Brown punched him in the head three times. They took him back into the house where Brown punched him again.

They then put him in a car and drove him into the city. Along the way, Brown punched him in the head at least 15 times, causing bruising and swelling.

He was then taken to a garage where Brown used a 10cm by 5cm length of timber to beat him. He was forced to hand over his car before being released.

He went to police and needed hospital treatment, five stitches to his head, and had bruising to his face and legs. He was in extreme pain for some time.

Duffy and Brown both elected not to make statements to the police. They both have previous convictions.

- NZPA