"That's no good for him or his family, nor is it good for for the community. I'm convinced he's learned his lesson, and he's not going to repeat his crime. He should be given a chance to redeem himself and move on with his life."
Mr Khan said Heginbotham, who was a first-time offender, had already paid a huge price for his big mistake including losing his job. He chose not to react negatively to the robbery because it would only eat away at him and could have influenced how he related to his customers.
"In this world there are so many bad things that happen everyday, and I believe it's important that we try to do something good," he said.
Heginbotham had not yet done any work for the shop owner but he was was only too happy to have him work alongside him and was even prepared to help him find a job.
Heginbotham, 28, was due to be sentenced in Tauranga District Court yesterday after earlier pleading guilty to a charge of aggravated robbery.
His lawyer, Rebekah Webby, successfully sought an adjournment to October 3 to allow more time for her client to find an address where he could serve a sentence of home detention.
A balaclava-clad Heginbotham faced Mr Khan at his store just before 5pm on May 17 while armed with an imitation pistol. He was caught about 30 minutes later by armed police at Cobblestone Court Motel.
All the stolen items and the pistol were recovered.
Judge Thomas Ingram agreed to the sentencing adjournment in light of favourable restorative justice meeting between Heginbotham and Mr Khan. The judge said Mr Khan had forgiven Heginbotham and did not want to see him go to jail, because he believed "everyone deserves a second chance". Judge Ingram called for a home detention report but made no promises about the sentencing outcome.
Heginbotham was not available for comment when this edition went to print.