Two men have been jailed for attacking and robbing two intellectually disabled men.
Kawana Marsden, 22, and Clinton Minhinnick, 18, were each sentenced in Blenheim District Court yesterday two years and four months imprisonment for aggravated robbery, injury with intent, and robbery, the Marlborough Express reported.
The pair were among a group of four youths who threw one intellectually disabled man into the Taylor River, Blenheim, and pushed another off his mobility scooter.
A third man was knocked unconscious by the group and robbed as he lay on the ground. Jailing Marsden and Minhinnick, Judge Chris Tuohy described the attacks as "cowardly" and "nasty". He said the intellectually disabled victims, aged 23 and 42, were listening to music near the Sinclair St bridge when the group approached them and demanded money and cigarettes from the older man, who was on a mobility scooter.
When he didn't comply, they pushed him off his scooter and punched and kicked him in the head.
Minhinnick then punched the younger man before he was thrown in the river.
The group also knocked out an intoxicated man, who woke to find the group going through his clothing, stealing his cellphone, $300 cash, bank card and footwear.
Defence counsel Rob Harrison asked the judge to consider home detention, saying both men were remorseful and had alcohol-abuse issues to address.
