Prison for Z petrol station robbers

Tauranga District Court sentencing. Armed robbery of the Z Service Station on 15th Ave. L-R Kevin Guttery, Air Higgins and Allan Shelford.

The three men who robbed a Tauranga petrol station armed with a knife and knuckle duster have all been sentenced to prison.

Pukawa Allan Shelford, 17, Kelvin John Guttery, 20, and Ari Higgins, 22, appeared in Tauranga District Court for sentencing today after pleading guilty to the aggravated robbery of the Z Service Station on 11th Avenue on June 29. They also pleaded guilty to stealing petrol from two Tauranga service stations earlier the same day.

Judge Cameron sentenced Higgins to three years and 10 months in prison taking into account previous convictions, remorse, an early guilty plea for the robbery. He also added one month to the sentence for a drink driving charge two days before the robbery.

Guttery was sentenced to three years and six months imprisonment taking into account his remorse, previous good character and guilty plea.

Shelford received a sentence of two years eight months imprisonment taking into account his young age, previous good character, remorse and guilty plea.

They were each ordered to pay $172 reparation to cover the costs of the petrol stolen in the two drive offs and the amount stolen in the robbery.