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Offender Databases Gemma Whitwell

Gemma Whitwell

Alias

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Offences

Unprovoked assault of a Chinese student in Nelson in June 2005
Assaulted a taxi driver after refusing to pay her fare in March 2005
Other convictions including theft and multiple drink driving

Victims

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Offender Affiliations

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Gang affiliations

Self styled "white supremacist"

Age

Born 1987

Current Location

At large - Nelson district

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to 21 months imprisonment in July 2005
Sentenced to 5 months community detention and 50 hours community work in September 2008

Background
NZ Herald story here
High Court decision here

From the Christchurch Press 21st July 2005
A Nelson teenager has been jailed for nearly two years after admitting her part in a racially motivated attack on a high school student. Gemma Whitwell, 18, appeared in the Nelson District Court for sentencing, having previously admitted charges of assault, assault with intent to injure, intimidation and unlawful assembly. The court previously was told that Whitwell and a group of friends repeatedly harassed the 17-year-old student of Chinese descent in the Buxton Square carpark toilets on June 12, before throwing the contents of a rubbish bin over her and assaulting here. Whitwell had also admitted assaulting a taxi driver on March 4. She punched the driver in the face through an open window after refusing to pay a $2.40 fare.

Defence lawyer Kelly Hennessy told the court that Whitwell had a "sad" and "miserable" upbringing, with her parents having been on methadone programmes. Judge Tony Zohrab said Whitwell had "entrenched views which can only be described as racist". "Racially motivated attacks are to be denounced and to be punished," the judge said. He said the charge relating to the attack on the taxi driver was serious as photographs showed the driver suffered black eyes and bruising to her collar bone and shoulder. The judge sentenced Whitwell to a total of 21 months jail and refused her the opportunity to apply for home detention. "Please take this as an opportunity to try to look to the future. Do something about your alcohol and drug problems and your anger issues," he said. Whitwell's uncompleted community work and fines totalling about $2000 were wiped as part of her sentence. On another charge of theft of petrol, Whitwell was convicted and discharged but ordered to pay reparation of $80

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Corrections and Additional Information
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