Jail for last offender involved in Hastings robbery of 70-year-old during fake test

Police went nationwide to look for three people involved in the taking of the car on the afternoon of August 24, 2019. Photo / File

A man who bashed a 70-year-old man dragged from a car during a fake test drive has been sentenced to two years and nine months in jail.

The man, 33-year-old Lamen John Hapi, had pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated robbery and appeared for sentence today in Napier District Court.

The mastermind, Maria Ross, 28, had previously been sentenced to 2 years' imprisonment with leave to apply for home detention, while remaining accomplice Blossom Garnham, 30, had been sentenced to 11 months' home detention.

All three had pleaded guilty to one charge of aggravated robbery relating to the taking of the car in a fake test-drive plan hatched by Ross and carried-out in Townshend St, Hastings on Saturday, August 24, 2019.

According to a summary, Ross, sparked by a wish to travel to Taranaki to collect her partner, "hatched a plan" to steal a car, sourced on Facebook Marketplace and launched via a fake Facebook profile she used with the name Franco Western.

Using text messages, she had the previous night put the idea of a street-theft to Garnham, who then enlisted flatmate Hapi, and the three took to the streets of Napier in search of a car suitable to steal.

Unsuccessful in that sortie, Ross then took the on-line approach and messaged a vendor trying to sell a silver Subaru Legacy sedan, and arranged for "Franco's girlfriend" to take the car for a test-drive, with the vendor's 70-year-old grandfather.

Ross went to the address and with the grandfather drove a lap around the neighbourhood, before suddenly stopping by the side of the road where Hapi and Garnham were waiting, with their faces covered by their hoodies.

Garnham got into the rear seat as Hapi opened the front-seat passenger's door and pulled the grandfather out, ripping the man's clothes and then punching him in the face, taking another swing and throwing the man to the ground.

The victim had to roll away to avoid being hit by the car as it sped off. He had a black eye, bruises and scratches as a result, but according to a victim impact statement had fears about ongoing safety, and concerns for his wife's worries and feelings of insecurity.

The car was used soon after in a $103 drive-off petrol theft at a Z Energy station in Heretaunga St East, and was recovered in a damaged condition several days later after police appealed nationwide for information.

Speaking with police Ross and Garnham acknowledged their roles, but said they did not expect the violence used by Hapi, who initially denied involvement.

The three were each ordered to pay $491.99 for repairs to the vehicle, while reparation for the stolen petrol was also ordered.