The Press

‘Muscle’ gangster urged to seek iwi

- David Clarkson

A judge has suggested a man who played the role of ‘‘frightenin­g gang muscle’’ in a standover incident should return to his iwi with his striking facial tattoos.

Christchur­ch District Court Judge Jane Farish asked Kenneth Daniel Hawkins, 50, about his background and then suggested he return to Nga¯ ti Tu¯ wharetoa in the central North Island.

‘‘Here [in Christchur­ch], if you have got facial tattoos, you are not seen in a positive light, unfortunat­ely,’’ she told him as he was jailed for two years and 10 months on a robbery charge which he had admitted.

He was involved in an incident in April 2017 for which two women have already been prosecuted. One of the women had previously been in relationsh­ip with the victim. Arrangemen­ts were made for a visit from Hawkins, a Mongrel Mob member, to the victim’s Kaiapoi address to take property. Hawkins visited wearing gang insignia and demanded ‘‘money, tobacco, and drugs’’. He left with a wallet.

Judge Farish said Hawkins was asked to make the visit because people believed his appearance would be frightenin­g.

‘‘You were obviously employed to be the muscle.’’

Defence counsel Elizabeth Bulger handed the judge certificat­es for the courses and training Hawkins had done while in custody on remand. His notes from the prison described him as a helpful and co-operative inmate.

He earned respect in prison, and had until recently kept secret the fact that he had a Tikanga Ma¯ ori arts degree from Massey University in Palmerston North.

‘‘Can I suggest that you embrace your heritage,’’ the judge said.

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