Jail for robberies that netted $280, smokes

Matthew Joshua Mulvey says he has put his gang connections behind him and has apologised to the victims of the two armed robberies that earned him a six year six month jail term today.

The robberies netted him $280 and a packet of smokes, Christchurch Court News website reported.

Christchurch District Court Judge Brian Callaghan imposed a three year three month non-parole term after a request from the crown at the sentencing.

The non-parole term was imposed for the protection of the community and to mark the seriousness of the offending.

Mulvey, a 29-year-old labourer, pleaded guilty on September 23, just before his jury trial was due to start.

He admitted the knifepoint robbery of a service station in Moorhouse Avenue and a video store in Stanmore Road.

He got $180 and a pack of cigarettes at the first robbery, and $100 from the till during the second one, when he pointed a knife at the lone woman attendant and pushed her down behind the counter.

Both victims were affected by the armed robberies. Judge Callaghan noted that the woman had previously suffered from depression and she was so anxious afterwards that she had not been able to return to work.

Defence counsel Paul Johnson said Mulvey was remorseful and had written letters of apology to the two victims, and to the judge.

The judge noted the robberies were committed 20 days apart in June 2008 and Mulvey was on bail for the first one when he committed the second one.

He said Mulvey claimed to have reached a stage in his life where he had put his gang associations behind him and wanted to make a fresh start.

He added to the sentence because of Mulvey's record of criminal offending which includes burglary while armed with a weapon in 2007, and assault convictions.

He gave little reduction in the sentence for the late guilty pleas, which were entered virtually at the start of the trial.

- NZPA