Driver for robbery sentenced

A man who robbed a Dargaville dairy has been jailed, but given leave to apply for home detention if a suitable address to serve the sentence can be found.

John Michael Paniora, 28, appeared in Whangarei District Court last week on a charge of robbery of the Hilltop Dairy in Awakino Rd on August 11 last year.

The police summary of facts said Paniora and another man, Israel Tribble, 22, went to the dairy about 4.15pm.

The pair had discussed robbing the dairy with an associate via text messages before they went. Paniora drove Tribble to the dairy and was to pick him up afterwards. Tribble, meanwhile, had obtained a shortened double-barrel shotgun, ammunition and a sports bag to hide it in and items to disguise himself.

Paniora drove Tribble to the shop and waited a bit north of the dairy while Tribble pulled a red bandanna over his face and a hoodie over his head, and pulled the shotgun out of his bag as he walked into the store.

Tribble found nobody in the front of the dairy so he walked into the living area behind the store and found a female shopkeeper.

He pointed the gun at her and demanded access to the safe. But the woman said there was no safe so Tribble made her go back into the store area and made her get money out of the till.

The woman put the money in the sports bag with Tribble pointing the gun at her. He got $200 and 20 packets of cigarettes. Paniora then picked him up outside the store and they drove off. They were arrested on August 21.

Judge Keith de Ridder said Paniora was not the main player in the robbery and did not carry the gun. He sentenced Paniora to 21 months in jail, but gave him leave to apply for home detention.

Tribble is serving a four-year jail term for his role in the robbery.