A gang member who repeatedly punched a man in the face after posing with his shirt off during a central-city brawl, has been jailed for more than two years.
Poutokomanawa Bubba Matiu Hapi (25) had been sentenced to community detention, community work and supervision over a gang stand-over incident just two days before the street fight.
During Hapi's Dunedin District Court sentencing on that occasion, Judge Michael Crosbie warned him it was his ''last crack''.
And so it proved.
Hapi appeared in court yesterday where Judge Kevin Phillips sentenced him to two years, one month's imprisonment on counts of injuring with intent to injure and assault.
The defendant was one of a group of Mangu Kaha patched members and associates who were out late on June 25.
Insults were exchanged with another group across the road, by the casino, the court heard.
''You really ignited the situation by taking your top off and posturing in front of the victims' group in an aggressive and hostile manner,'' Judge Phillips said.
Though Hapi was not responsible for the worst of the violence, he contributed significantly to the situation.
''There was a fracas, a riot that took place,'' the judge said.
At one stage Hapi and one of the victims ended up on the ground.
As they got up, one of the defendant's friends booted the man in
the head, rendering him unconscious.
''Then you straddle him, punching him about four times in the face,'' Judge Phillips said.
Hapi continued to rain down blows on the defenceless man until a member of the public stopped him, the court heard.
A Good Samaritan who tried to stem the violence did not escape unscathed.
Hapi and a co-defendant chased one of the men and after his friend had hit him, the defendant threw the victim to the ground and punched him in the head.
Counsel Deborah Henderson said her client had undertaken drug and alcohol counselling sessions while in prison on remand.
After reading Hapi's letter to the court, Judge Phillips said he was clearly a capable man.
The defendant wrote that he had reached the point where he wanted to change.
In addition to the jail term, the judge ordered Hapi to pay the victim $1000.
