Disgruntled homeowner ripped tradesman's scrotum with metal hook

A man in Kawerau, New Zealand, has admitted ripping another man's scrotum with a metal hook. Stephen John Docherty, 66, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent when he appeared in the Whakatane District Court on Wednesday. He was remanded on bail for a restorative justice hearing to take place and for sentencing on June 12.

According to the police summary of facts, Docherty hired the victim to carry out concrete works at his Kawerau property. At 3.30pm on March 17, Docherty arrived home and found the works, being carried out by a contractor, were not done as he had described them to the victim. Docherty demanded to know where the victim was and was told by the contractor he would be back soon.



Docherty replied that he would rip the man's penis off. The victim arrived and an argument between himself and Docherty became heated. According to the summary, the men "got in each other's face" and exchanged words. Docherty repeated his earlier threat and said he would rip the victim's testicles out. He then got a 15cm-long hook with a pointed end that had been fashioned out of a round steel rod.

He gripped the hook in his hand and reached down past the victim's groin before pulling the hook up sharply, causing the hook end of the weapon to rip into, and through, the victim's trousers and scrotum. The victim suffered a torn scrotum that required surgery. Docherty told police he lost control of his temper in the spur of the moment. Police are seeking a destruction order for the hook.