A man who took part in stealing a 91-year-old woman's handbag sent her flowers the next day, Masterton District Court heard at his sentencing yesterday.
Pouwhare Renata Naera, 25, drove the getaway car after the pensioner was robbed outside Masterton District Council buildings on February 9.
Yesterday, Naera was sentencedto four months' community detention, with a curfew from 7.30pm to 6am, and 12 months' supervision for theft of a handbag and contents worth $1100.
Naera's co-accused, Maia Rongonui, 22, was sentenced earlier this year to nine months' imprisonment for his part in the robbery.
Judge Stephen Harrop said Naera had demonstrated remorse the next day by arranging for flowers to be sent to the woman and a letter in the form of a card, which was given to police.
The judge said Rongonui had been "very much the primary offender" and Naera had effectively been charged as a party and had received no benefit from the robbery. Rongonui had already been ordered to pay the entire reparation.
Rongonui had seen the woman leave a nearby bank "carrying a quantity of cash".
After following her, he met Naera and the two followed her on her mobility scooter.
