A Blenheim teenager will spend the next 10 months serving a home detention sentence for an aggravated robbery of the Riversdale Four Square store in Blenheim.
Taia Huatahi Schuster, 18, unemployed, was also sentenced on unrelated charges of wilful damage by fire, two charges of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, careless driving, failing to stop for police, driving with excess blood alcohol, driving while forbidden, burglary and intentional damage when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday.
He was also disqualified from driving for six months.
At a previous court appearance, sentencing was adjourned so his family could find somewhere for him to serve home detention and spare him a prison sentence. He will see the sentence out in a Lower Hutt home.
The court previously heard that Schuster was carrying a hunting knife when he went into the Budge St store about 4.15pm on March 20. He pointed the knife at the 49-year-old shop assistant and demanded money.
He grabbed $190 the woman took from the cash register and left.
Schuster later told police he committed the robbery because he wanted to go to jail and get out of Blenheim.
Judge Ian Mill said a prison sentence for aggravated robbery "goes without saying", but a sentencing indication by Judge Michael Behrens allowed for a home detention sentence.
"You were fortunate to get the sentencing indication you got," he said.
Defence lawyer Rob Harrison asked Judge Mill to take into account the time Schuster had spent in custody awaiting sentencing.
Judge Mill took into account Schuster's age, guilty plea and remorse.
Disorderly behaviourA member of the public called the police after seeing a Blenheim teenager challenging a group of people with a pool cue, police say.
Matthew Dwayne Preston, 19, factory hand, admitted possessing an offensive weapon, disorderly behaviour and unrelated charges of burglary and breaching bail when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday.
He was sentenced to 200 hours' community work and ordered to pay $105.65 reparation.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve Frost said Preston was drinking with friends at a Girling Ave home about 11.55pm on August 5 when they confronted another group on the street, which turned into a short scuffle.
Preston and his friends believed members of the other group had assaulted one of their friends.
Preston went back into the house, picked up a pool cue and began challenging the other group, Mr Frost said.
A few days later, Preston and a 14-year-old, using a pair of shears, broke into a house where Ni-Van vineyard workers lived.
They were seen by a member of the public, who called the police. Preston was later found at his home a short distance away.
Defence lawyer John Holdaway said Preston's offending had been "light" until the burglary.
Judge Ian Mill said the sentence needed to reflect the crimes, which were more serious than Preston's other convictions.
Jail for receiving consoleA Blenheim vineyard worker who received a stolen video game console and then on-sold it was sent to prison yesterday.
Selenito Totau, 18, admitted receiving the PlayStation 3 and was sentenced to three months' jail when he appeared before Judge Ian Mill in the Blenheim District Court.
The sentence will be served at the same time as a 4 1/2-month jail term he received on Monday for assault, breaching intensive supervision and shoplifting.
Judge Mill said Totau was given the stolen PlayStation 3, valued at $700, between December 26 and 31 and agreed to sell it. He sold it for $300.
Other chargesGordon Leonard Wainohu, 41, of Picton, admitted two charges of receiving in relation to an armed robbery at the Cloudy Bay business park on October 30, and breaching community work.
He was granted bail until sentencing on November 1.
Petr Malecek, 30, of Blenheim, admitted possessing cannabis and was fined $200.
- The Marlborough Express
Last updated 13:00 14/09/2011
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