Home detention for armed robber

File photo / Bay of Plenty Times

An armed robber, described as having an "intellectual deficit", has been sentenced to home detention.

Brett Allan King, 21, held a knife as he approached various Asian people in Christchurch in May, Christchurch District Court was told on Friday.

Most simply walked or ran off and when he went into a store and could not open the till he brandished the knife at three customers. One handed over his wallet but King discarded it without taking anything.

King admitted five charges of demanding with menaces, one charge of robbery while armed with a knife, and theft, the Christchurch Court News website reported.

Defence counsel Alister James said King, whom he described as having "an intellectual deficit", had been drinking with associates on the night of the offences and was sent out to get money to buy cannabis.

He was armed with a pocket knife with a small blade and his victims thought it was a joke.

Mr James said King had been in care for sometime but his mother was prepared to give him a chance and take him in.

Judge Brian Callaghan accepted the proposal and sentenced King to home detention at his mother's address for seven months and ordered him to pay $210 reparation for the theft.

- NZPA