Jail for prison bashing

Several Mongrel Mob members will spend years behind bars for a prison bashing that lasted 38 seconds.

The five-on-four attack in the E Block exercise yard at Christchurch Men’s Prison left one victim with a broken jaw and another with a twisting fracture of the leg.

Three of the Mob members pleaded guilty just before their trial was due to begin in December, and they received their jail terms from Christchurch District Court Judge Paul Kellar yesterday. Two pleaded guilty earlier and were sentenced separately.

Judge Kellar said the fact the assault involved groups in prison ‘‘makes matters worse’’.

The incident happened on June 22, 2016, as the culmination of tensions between the two groups.

Adam Travis, 42, and his son, Reggie Kenneth Roberts, 22, of Aranui, pleaded guilty to charges of intentionally injuring the victim whose jaw was broken.

Jason Reweti, 35, a fibre optic technician, admitted a more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to injure. He had attacked a separate victim, breaking his leg.

Judge Kellar jailed Travis for two years and five months, noting his efforts at rehabilitation while on remand. He jailed Reweti for three years, noting he was already serving a sentence for injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and kidnapping. He jailed Roberts for a total of three years and six months.