‘Torture’ attacker is jailed 3 years

A MAN who inflicted a “course of torture” on another man who owed a drug debt has been jailed.

Cameron James Riley, 30, of Blackmans Bay, pleaded guilty last week in the Supreme Court in Hobart to one count of assault and one count of stealing that occurred at a Kingston house on August 23, 2017.

Sentencing Riley yesterday, Justice Michael Brett said Riley had the task or took it upon himself to “interrogate and terrorise” a man who owed one of Riley’s friends money for drugs.

“You commenced with an angry interrogation which included threats of harm. When the complainant did not give you the answers you were seeking, you then inflicted a prolonged and brutal physical assault on him, which in effect amounted to a course of torture,” Justice Brett said.

He said Riley had the man turn out his pockets — and stole $35 cash, a packet of cigarettes, a torch and a wallet from him — then took the man’s mobile phone and ordered him to strip down to his underpants. He then made him sit in a chair where he was subjected to physical violence.

Justice Brett said Riley punched him to both sides of the face 15 times and kicked him once to the left side of his face “with significant force”.

“You then stood behind the chair where he was sitting, placed the connecting chain of a pair of nunchucks around his throat, and applied pressure.”

Justice Brett said the man had trouble breathing, convulsed and lost control of his bladder as a result. He said Riley also took a photo of the man’s beaten face.

“Your assault on the man was brutal and degrading,” he said.

He said it was suggested the assault took place over “possibly several hours”.

The court heard when the man was eventually able to leave, he sought help at a nearby community centre and was taken to hospital by ambulance, where he stayed for five days.

Riley is serving a six-year jail sentence for unrelated crimes — the convictions for which he is appealing against.

Justice Brett sentenced Riley to three years’ jail for the assault and stealing, to be served in addition to his previous sentence. He will be eligible to apply for parole after serving half of the new sentence.