Remorseful Northland Warehouse robbery getaway driver sent to prison

The getaway driver of a serious armed robbery of The Warehouse in Dargaville has been jailed for nearly four years. Photo / John Stone

Thomas Nathan agreed to be the getaway driver for his nephew and another person so they could rob a retail giant in Northland of more than $242,000 worth of jewellery and $27,600 in cash and cheques.

He didn't know his nephew, Daniel Cameron, was armed with a cut-down .22 calibre rifle at the time of the aggravated robbery at The Warehouse in Dargaville but once arrested, he offered to help police locate the firearm.

That offer still stands despite Nathan, 39, being sentenced by the High Court at Whangārei yesterday to three years and eight months in jail for his part in the heist.

Cameron, 25, was earlier this month jailed for five years and two months and received his second strike warning which means he'll have to serve his sentence without parole.

He told the court he had been awake for three days due to consuming methamphetamine at the time of the offending.

Another offender, Kaipara Anderson, 19, who was armed with a screwdriver and a pair of scissors during the hold-up was sentenced in January to five years and 10 months.

Five staff were threatened and bound before the shift manager was made to open the safe on the night of May 28, last year.

At yesterday's sentencing, Crown prosecutor Jarred Scott submitted Nathan's role should not be treated any different to other offenders and the fact he wasn't aware of the firearm did not diminish his culpability.

But defence lawyer Sumudu Thode said Nathan's culpability was vastly different to that of Cameron who had planned the robbery much earlier.

She said Nathan offered to help police locate the firearm used in the robbery and that the offer still stood.

Nathan was arrested after police located 30 gold and silver rings at his house in Dargaville.

Justice Matthew Palmer said Nathan offended while he was at a low point and saw his life
disintegrating before his eyes.

He agreed to be the getaway driver while struggling financially but admitted it was the "worst mistake" he'd made in his life.

The judge accepted Nathan was genuinely remorseful as he'd offered to help locate the firearm, agreed to participate in a restorative justice conference, and to pay reparation.

"I urge you to hold true to your intentions and set your life back on track," Justice Palmer said.

He said it was important Nathan stayed away from further offending otherwise he'd have to serve any future sentences in full given his second strike warning.

Fines of more than $6000 was remitted.