Robbed business shuts up

Dargaville's Hilltop Dairy shut down after a gunpoint robbery.

Constant reminders of being robbed at gunpoint have forced a Northland dairy owner to close the business she built by working 15-hour days.

The woman, who owned the Hilltop Dairy on Awakino Rd in Dargaville for about three years, said her business was a constant reminder of "that day" when 21-year-old Israel John Tribble pointed a loaded shotgun at her and demanded cash and cigarettes.

Tribble was this week sentenced in the Whangarei District Court to five years and three months in jail on charges of aggravated robbery, driving while disqualified, dangerous driving, failing to stop, breach of community work and breach of supervision. A minimum non-parole period of two years was imposed by Judge Greg Davis.

Disguised in bandanna, sunglasses, sweatshirt top and with the firearm in a bag, Tribble robbed the dairy of about $200 cash and cigarettes on August 11. He pointed the loaded shotgun at the woman while she opened the till and took out the money, which he placed in his bag.

Reading from her victim impact statement, the woman said the community had suffered from the closure of her dairy as it was close to essential services in town. "I hope he truly understands what he did to my family and hope he never does this to anyone else," she said in court.

Panic attacks had become part of her life and her teenage son had to quit his part-time job, she said.

Tribble's lawyer Aaron Dooney highlighted the early guilty plea and said his client had strong family support.

Judge Davis said the aggravated robbery was committed while Tribble was on bail on driving charges.

He was no stranger to court having previously been convicted of male assaults female, driving while disqualified and unlawfully taking a motorbike, the judge said. Tribble's alleged accomplice earlier pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated robbery, producing/manufacturing/distributing cannabis, and cultivating cannabis. He has elected a jury trial.