Boy racer who injured fan at Horotiu 'invasion' event granted discharge without conviction

Wednesday, 10 December 2025

A Hamilton man who fled after his car struck a fan filming him while he did burnouts at a boy racer “invasion” event has been granted a discharge without conviction.

The 20-year-old was also granted permanent name suppression by Judge Arthur Tompkins, when he appeared in the Hamilton District Court on Tuesday.

The defendant had earlier admitted charges of sustained loss of traction and failing to stop to ascertain injury after an accident.

Through his lawyer Alexandra Williams, he applied for the discharge and suppression on the basis that the consequences of being named in police and public records - particularly the effect it would have on his future employment prospects - far outweighed the gravity of his offending.

Judge Tompkins ruled that the speedy way the defendant had handed himself in to the police - which came after the Waikato Times published details of the incident - as well as the “relatively supportive attitude” of the victim; road safety courses he had taken; and the detrimental effect of the conviction meant “the statutory test [for a discharge] is made out”.

However the defendant did not entirely escape without penalty. He has been disqualified from driving for a year, and must also pay his victim $500.

Both charges related to a single incident, which was part of a night of chaos that erupted on the evening of Saturday, May 24, when hundreds of boy racers gathered at the intersection of Horotiu Bridge Rd and Great South Rd north of Hamilton.

The trouble that night began about 10pm when cars began congregating on Greenwood St in Hamilton.

The group headed to Airport Rd, and then the intersection of Meadways Rd and State Highway 35 near Ngāhinapōuri. Among them was the defendant’s car - a Ford Falcon with personalised plates.

Before setting out he had evidently attempted to conceal the word on the plates with duct tape.

A large group of participants blocked the road while a number of vehicles performed burnouts at the intersection. Onlookers kicked police vehicles as they approached, threw bottles, let off fireworks and pointed laser pointers at them.

About 11.40pm the group made tracks to the Horotiu intersection. It was there, at precisely 12.42am, the man arrived with several passengers in his car.

The vast blockade of people and vehicles meant it was impossible for any public to get through, the summary of facts on the man’s case stated.

Among the crowd on the road was the soon-to-be victim, who was “encouraging and filming the activities”.

The man - who had his girlfriend in the car with him - drove into the intersection, and started doing clockwise burnouts.

“As the defendant swung the passenger side of his vehicle around, the victim misjudged the movement and was struck by the vehicle.

“He was launched into the air and landed heavily on the road. Onlookers attempted to drag him by his clothing towards the edge of the group.”

The driver, meanwhile, continued to do burnouts until he was made aware by the crowd he had struck someone.

“He immediately regained traction and drove away on Horotiu Bridge Rd at speed and left the scene without returning to ascertain the nature of injuries.”

The victim was knocked unconscious for about 15 to 20 minutes and also suffered a seizure and vomited.

Emergency services were delayed in getting to him due to the big crowd of people and vehicles blocking the way. He was eventually taken by ambulance to Waikato Hospital, suffering from concussion and contusions.

In court, Williams said her client had been subject to an overnight curfew since his arrest. He had fully complied with these bail conditions - and that meant “the punitive element has been taken care of”.

She said her client had not realised he had injured anyone, and realised he had reacted badly to it by driving off.

The victim had made contact with the defendant - “mainly to query why he had handed himself in” - and the defendant had taken the opportunity to apologise to him, she said.

The defendant was “a talented young man” who, since the incident, had been diagnosed with ADHD, dyslexia and other health issues.

The victim had not sought reparation - and had mainly been concerned over a pair of broken glasses, Williams said.