Petrol- dousing burglar jailed for 5 years

Gavel and sound block

A judge has praised the "incredibly brave" actions of two superette workers who were doused with petrol and threatened to be set alight during an attempted burglary.

Rotorua man James Tahere, 37, was sentenced in the Rotorua District Court yesterday to five years in jail after previously pleading guilty to one charge of aggravated burglary and three charges of assault with intent to rob.

Judge Phillip Cooper said Tahere entered a Tokoroa Mobil service station on November 7 last year after a three-day alcohol and drug binge, carrying a plastic bottle of petrol.

He said Tahere squirted two staff members with the petrol and threatened to light them on fire if they did not give him money.

Tahere left the premises with $1500 in cash.

On November 8, Tahere entered the Kelso Superette in Tokoroa and proceeded to squirt the two staff members with petrol, as he had the day before.

The staff members resisted, grabbing a nearby tomahawk and overpowering Tahere, detaining him until police arrived.

"It is clear from the victim impact statements that these victims have suffered ongoing feelings of distress and anxiety as a result of your offending," Judge Cooper said.

Tahere, who had previously been released on bail, said he accepted responsibility for the offending and was grateful to the judge for granting bail as he underwent "intense self evaluation" during that time.

He said due to the alcohol and drugs, he did not remember much from the two days of offending but was remorseful for his actions.

"It was an incredibly brave act of the two Kelso Superette staff who detained you until police arrived," the judge said.

"I am quite sure if it hadn't been for their actions, you would have gone on offending during your alcohol and drug-fuelled binge," Judge Cooper said.