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A woman bank teller has given up the profession and is moving out of Christchurch because Stephen Matthew Glover robbed her as she worked at a central city bank.
Crown prosecutor Catherine Dalziel told the court the woman had previously been passionate about her career in the banking industry.
Police said the August 17 robbery had left the woman hysterical after Glover passed her a note demanding money and saying he had a gun.
It took staff several minutes to calm her down enough to find out that there had been a robbery.
Now Glover has begun a three-year prison term imposed by Judge John Cadenhead in Christchurch District Court today, after pleading guilty to the robbery.
Miss Dalziel told the court Glover was aged 20 and had amassed 45 convictions since November 2004. These included four burglaries, possession of instruments for burglary, possession of a knife in a public place, preparation to commit a crime, 11 thefts, and nine for unlawfully interfering with vehicles.
He robbed the bank teller of $200 at 1pm, soon after being fined $250 in court for disorderly behaviour.
Defence counsel Glen Henderson said there had been little or no premeditation involved in the robbery, but Judge Cadenhead said Glover had prepared for it by writing the note.
He had read a letter that had been sent to the court by Glover's mother.
He said Glover had a formidable list of convictions and committed the robbery soon after being released from a five month prison term for burglary.
- NZPA