Englishman Paul Speakman's Attackers Got 10 Years

from NZ Herald

"Four men who went on a violent rampage across the central North Island terrorising tourists have been jailed for 10 years each.

Rotorua District Court was told yesterday one of the men went on the violent spree so he could pay drug debts.

Another was high on P -- pure methamphetamine -- at the time of the robberies and had been using the drug since he was 16.

The men used crowbars to smash windows of the tourists' vehicles.

They threatened and attacked their victims, stole their property and slashed their tyres to prevent them from going for help.

The vehicles were left "blood-spattered and ransacked", the court was told.

The four, who all pleaded guilty to three charges of aggravated robbery, are:

* Shaun David Austin, 24, a boner, of Te Aroha,
* Hayden Lee Growden, 28, a hydroblaster, of Te Aroha,
* Ben Joseph Atkinson, 21, a sickness beneficiary, of Paeroa, and
* Cameron Lee Ashby, 26, a labourer, of Paeroa.

In one of the attacks, early on October 12, British tourist Paul Speakman and his 12-year-old son Christian were asleep in their campervan in the Athenree Gorge, near Katikati, when the men set upon them.

The men threatened to drown Mr Speakman and his son if they did not co-operate.

Even when the pair did co-operate, the men continued their attack.

Mr Speakman suffered a cut to his face, which required stitches, and a swollen eye.

It was the Speakman's first night in New Zealand and they were contemplating settling here....."

Read the full article here: 10 Year Sentences for attackes on Tourists