Teen wrecks mother’s house

A psychologically damaged teenager caused thousands of dollars worth of destruction to his mother’s house only weeks after he committed a violent attack.

On Friday, Kaleb Reece Chamberlain appeared before Judge Chris Sygrove at the New Plymouth District Court on a raft of charges including assault with a blunt weapon, two counts of assaulting police and escaping custody.

The court heard how on January 6, about 9pm, the 18-year-old and his mother paid her former partner, the victim, a visit at an address on Connett Rd in New Plymouth. After a brief exchange of words between the woman and her ex, a violent assault occurred with Chamberlain smashing the man multiple times with a metal bar across his left arm, upper torso and left leg.

He then punched and kicked the man.

Another person held the victim’s arms behind his back while Chamberlain continued to punch him.

The teen then grabbed the vehicle jack and threw it through the glass panel of the front door, showering the victim with large pieces of glass.

The man sustained multiple injuries from the prolonged attack and was admitted to hospital where he was treated for a concussion.

Chamberlain and his mother were jointly charged with assault with intent to injure and assault with a blunt instrument.

He was solely charged with wilful damage. His mother is still going through the court process.

Chamberlain faced further charges in court on Friday in relation to offending which occurred following the assault.

According to a summary of facts the teenager was at his mother’s Waitara address about 6.30pm on January 21.

Police were called to the scene after the pair had a domestic altercation. Chamberlain was removed from the property but returned less than two hours later and began to smash up the house and its contents.

The cost to fix the house has been estimated at $12,000 while a value of the wrecked items is yet to be ascertained.

When police arrived Chamberlain was seen fleeing on foot towards the Waitara River. The chase led to East Beach where he ran to the ocean and started swimming along the coastline.

He continued to evade police until night fell and a short time later he was spotted near his mother’s address.

When police tried to arrest him he lashed out, spitting at two officers and kicking at one of them.

Defence lawyer Megan Boyd said the teen’s offending had arisen out of psychological issues.

She referred to a psychologist’s report which stated he had struggled under the influence of his mother. Sygrove agreed she was partly to blame for Chamberlain’s offending.

‘‘She was not a positive influence on you,’’ he said.

However, he noted Chamberlain was now living with his father in a healthier environment and was working to turn his life around.

A psychologist reported it was unlikely the teenager would reoffend, he had addressed his addiction and social problems and was now in stable employment.

Sygrove sentenced him to 12 months’ intensive supervision and ordered him to pay $500 emotional harm reparation to the assault victim.

‘‘Let’s not see you in this court again,’’ he said.