$150 drug debt excuse for violence

A man armed with an air rifle raided his victim’s home, assaulted him and then pillaged property from the address over an unpaid $150 dope debt.

At a hearing in the New

Plymouth District Court, Kade Henry Rampton pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated robbery following the May 28 crime, in which he had two, unidentified accomplices.

The summary of facts said the trio arrived at the victim’s New Plymouth home about 12.45am.

Armed with an air rifle, Rampton, along with the two others, stormed into the address uninvited and with their faces covered. The victim was home with two flatmates and a visitor. Rampton and his co-offenders confronted the man, demanding money for a $150 debt they claimed was owed to them for cannabis.

The 26-year-old pointed the air rifle at the victim, before striking him.

As a result of the blow, the victim fell backwards and through a glass coffee table, which smashed on impact. The man suffered a gash to his head.

Rampton and the other two then searched the house for five minutes, stealing property belonging to the victim along the way.

This included a phone, a wallet with $50 cash inside, a jacket, the victim’s prescribed medication and food from his freezer.

During Rampton’s appearance in court on Thursday, via audio-visual link from Whanganui prison, two other charges – wounding with intent to cause reckless disregard and unlawful possession of a firearm – were withdrawn.

Judge Gregory Hikaka remanded the defendant to reappear for sentencing on November 23.