Unhappy camper admits assault

A forestry worker who beat up a man for putting human faeces in his girlfriend's handbag implied to police he would do it again if faced with a similar situation.

Lance James Mackel, 20, yesterday admitted a charge of assaulting Wellington man Andrew Carman with intent to injure when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court.

He was convicted and remanded to appear for sentencing on March 21.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Graham Single said Mackle told police Mr Carman "deserved everything he got for doing a disgusting, offensive act".

"He was not remorseful about his actions and implied he would do it again."

Mr Carman had been charged for his part in the incident, Mr Single said.

The incident erupted at a Department of Conservation campground in Cow Shed Bay early on November 28 after Mr Carman, a camper at the ground, walked to a campsite where loud music had been playing all night, he said.

He was not happy about the noise and wanted to tell the noisy campers what he thought and get their car registration numbers, he said.

But there was no one at the campsite. He saw a pile of human faeces and in a "spur of the moment decision" shovelled the faeces through the open window of a nearby car and into a handbag on the front seat, Mr Single said.

He did not think anyone had seen him and he walked back to his campsite. However, a friend of Mackle saw the incident.

Mackle confronted Carman, chased him and punched him in the head several times. Mr Carman was knocked unconscious.

Other campers saw the attack and stopped Mackle from continuing, Mr Single said.

Mackle left and returned a short time later but was not allowed to see Mr Carman because others believed he would assault him again, he said.

Mr Carman was concussed and suffered severe bruising to his face, head and jaw, a cut to his eye brow and memory loss.

His right eye was blackened and swollen and he could not see out of it for several days, Mr Single said.

He had also been diagnosed with a broken clavicle.

- The Marlborough Express Last updated 12:03 08/02/2011