A Rotorua man who pointed a gun at a bank teller before stealing $4000 has been jailed for more than six years.
Nicholas Aueriana Williams appeared in the Rotorua District Court on Friday before Judge Thomas Ingram for sentence for the aggravated robbery in March of the Bank of New Zealand
in Kawerau, a charge of burglary, and two counts of breaching community work.
The court heard that on March 8 Williams, dressed in a grey hooded top and jeans, walked into the Islington St bank and handed a teller a note stating he had a gun and demanding money. He had left the bank with $4000 cash.
Whakatane detective Shane Tailby had been driving along Onslow St when Williams ran directly into his path. "If I hadn't slammed on my brakes I would have collected him," Mr Moller told The Daily Post. "I saw him come out of the bank at 90 miles an hour and wondered if a cheque had bounced or something."
A teller had come out and told Mr Moller the bank had been robbed.
Williams had been on bail at the time in connection with the burglary of a hotel with two accomplices. They had allegedly stolen a television.
In court, Judge Ingram said the bank teller still experienced disturbing effects from the robbery. "She was in a vulnerable position and you presented a gun to her and gave her a note to say, 'Fill up the bag'."
Williams had "decades" of previous convictions that included breach of community work, receiving stolen goods and burglaries.
"You completed a third of your community work and you couldn't be bothered to do the rest," Judge Ingram said.
"People who carry on like you have, young man, end up spending a long time in prison.
"No sentence short of imprisonment would be appropriate."
Williams was sentenced to five years and three months in jail for the aggravated robbery and 12 months for the burglary, both sentences to be served cumulatively. He was was also sentenced to a month in jail for the community work charges. That was to be served concurrently.
