Kidnapping, beating ‘senseless degradation’

Press, 31 August 1989, Page 18

Kidnapping, beating ‘senseless degradation’

PA Auckland The kidnapping and beating of a beneficiary, aged 18, was senseless degradation of a weak and pitiful man, a High Court judge said yesterday.

Mr Justice Sinclair said the man was taken from an Auckland hotel on October 27 last year because he allegedly owed money to an associate of his kidnappers. Allen Joseph Ellison, aged 26, a Papakura motor scraper driver, was jailed for two years for the kidnapping and 18

months for assault with intent to injure when he appeared in the High Court at Auckland yesterday. Ellison denied both charges but was found guilty by a jury.

Ellison and two friends were drinking at the Inner Circle tavern on October 27 when the victim arrived. One of the friends lured him outside for a cannabis cigarette and took him to Ellison’s car.

Once he was in the car, he was beaten and driven to Avondale motorcamp. He was taken to a cara-

van where he was forced to spend the night. The victim suffered multiple cuts and abrasions to his face, requiring medical attention. The judge said even if only two-thirds of what the victim said happened did happen, he went through a pretty rough time.

There was no evidence the offences were premeditated. “I am satisfied it was an opportunist meeting but you had the motivation, guile and intelligence to set up these misdeeds.”