Teen admits hammer attack after car-spiking arrest

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A teenager has admitted attacking a man with a hammer in an eastern Bay of Plenty pub, after being arrested in a late-night road incident, police say.

The 17-year-old was arrested alongside another teenager on State Highway 30 near Te Teko on Wednesday night.

The arrests followed an investigation into the attack at the Plains Hotel in Edgecumbe last Friday.

The victim’s father, Gerrard Edwards, previously told the Whakatāne Beacon that his 30-year-old son was attacked while having a quiet drink with friends at the hotel’s garden bar.

Edwards said his son was struck in the right eye socket and forehead with a hammer after a group of young men took issue with the black leather vest he was wearing.

He said his son needed multiple surgeries for his fractured skull and eye socket, and was “lucky to be alive”.

The 30-year-old victim suffered a fractured skull and right eye socket after being struck in the face with a hammer.

Police said the arrested 17-year-old pleaded guilty today to charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assault with a weapon and unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle.

He was remanded on bail for sentencing in the Whakatāne District Court.

Police said a 16-year-old arrested in Wednesday night’s vehicle incident was referred to the youth justice process.

The teenager faces charges of possessing an offensive weapon and unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle.

Police allege that, about 11.45pm on Wednesday, near Kawerau, officers saw people wearing balaclavas in a vehicle swerving towards police vehicles.

The vehicle was spiked and came to a stop on State Highway 30 near Te Teko.

The occupants allegedly ran away but were caught soon afterwards by the Police Dog Unit.

Plains Hotel in Edgecumbe.

Eastern Bay of Plenty prevention manager Inspector Phil Gillbanks said police were pleased to have acted quickly to catch those responsible, and credited the staff involved.

Gillbanks said the victim, his whānau and the wider Edgecumbe community had been affected by the incident, and he hoped the arrests would provide some reassurance.

Acting Sergeant Dave Gillies said earlier that police responded to a report of a man acting aggressively at premises on College Rd in Edgecumbe about 11.55pm on Friday.