Jail for knife-wielding dairy robber

Bevan Peter Brown, 34, from Gate Pa was sentenced in Tauranga District Court today, after last month pleading guilty to one charge each of aggravated robbery, possession of an offensive weapon namely a knife in a public place and threatening to cause grievous bodily harm to a person or persons unknown. The offences occurred on October 7 and 8 this year.

On October 7, the day before Brown robbed Colorado Dairy co-owner Mohammed Begg of packet of cigarettes and a lighter, he told a mental health care facility manager he was thinking about stabbing someone in a supermarket to get arrested.

Police were called and Brown was found in possession of a knife walking towards Countdown Greerton where he said he was heading with intention of stabbing someone.

Brown was arrested, appeared in court on October 8 and bailed but later that same day he stole some groceries from the same supermarket while in possession of the knife, then walked across the road and robbed Mr Begg after brandishing the knife towards him.

Brown, who was arrested a short time later, told a police detective he was feeling suicidal and had homicidal thoughts of stabbing someone in a crowded supermarket.

Judge Louis Bidois said the usual sanction for a dairy aggravated robbery would be a prison sentence starting at around three-four years before discounts for guilty pleas and mitigating factors.

But the judge said given that Brown suffers from a mental health disorder and was having a mental health crisis on the day of the robbery and the hours leading up to it and had clearly influenced his actions, he was prepared to step back from the usual sentence.

Brown is now receiving the treatment he was crying out for while in prison, the court was told.