An Ōpōtiki man involved in an unprovoked assault on a man who rode past him on a bike is taking steps to improve his life, including handing in his gang patch.

In sentencing Zion Hunuhunu to home detention, Judge Jo Rielly noted the positive changes the 19-year-old made in his life since leaving the area and urged him to remain motivated and continue to live a good lifestyle.

“If you have moved away from connections with gangs and people that are making you choose paths that lead you astray ... I don’t think you will be back before the criminal court again,” she said.

Hunuhunu appeared in the Whakatāne District Court for sentence on charges of wounding with intent to injure and burglary after he and two friends chased, then attacked a man at his home in Ōpōtiki in October last year. A charge of assault with a weapon was withdrawn.

The court heard that at 12.45am on October 26, Hunuhunu was with two others having drinks outside a bar in Elliott St, Ōpōtiki, when a person rode past them on a bike.

The three ran to their vehicle and began to chase the man down King St.

Hunuhunu and a co-offender chased him on foot while the person driving tried to hit the victim with the car, only just missing.

When the victim reached his home, he grabbed a broken fence paling to defend himself.

Hunuhunu arrived at the property and jumped the fence, kicking the victim in the leg causing him to fall over.

A co-offender presented a shotgun at close range, ordering the victim to drop the fence paling.

The assault then continued with neighbours saying they could hear “thuds and groans”.

The firearm was never recovered and the victim received serious injuries including a broken nose, concussion and lacerations to the head.

His lawyer, Kylee O’Connor, said Hunuhunu had been on a curfew since April and had been taking positive steps, including handing in his gang patch, staying away from gang members and the Ōpōtiki area.

Judge Rielly said there were aspects of home invasion to the case.

She noted Hunuhunu was 18 at the time and said when she read about what he had been doing in the past few months, she was surprised that he got himself involved in such offending.

She said everything he had done since and the changes he had made in his life had been positive.

He showed insight into what caused his offending, genuine remorse and had never breached his bail, despite having a curfew and being subject to late-night bail checks, which was a credit to him.

She sentenced him to 18 months’ prison, which was converted to a sentence of eight months’ home detention.