KEY POINTS:
A 19-year-old who threatened another man with a hammer and, with three other men, stole from him has been jailed for four years.
Iraia Burton was sentenced in Wellington District Court today after pleading guilty to aggravated robbery.
The court was told Burton and three other men had gone to the man's house about 11pm last December because the victim owed one of Burton's associates money.
Lead by Burton, the four men demanded money then stole about $1000 worth of the man's property.
Burton threatened the man, 24, with a hammer and told him he would kill him if he went to the police.
Prosecutor Mark O'Donoghue said Burton had a long history of offending, mostly dealt with by the Youth Court.
Burton's lawyer Barbara Hunt said he was a young, intelligent man with leadership qualities who wanted to change his life.
"This young man has got to this point. He hasn't had a violent history and he's worried about that and I'm urging the court to do something that might assist him before it gets worse."
Ms Hunt asked the judge for a jail sentence of no more than two years so that, when released, he could get help with his problems, which included alcohol and drug abuse.
"He has to learn life skills, but he's not learning them in prison."
When he sentenced Burton, Judge Mike Behrens said the robbery had had a serious impact on the victim, who lived with his partner and a child.
He had been afraid to leave his house for the fear of retaliation and had lost his job, Judge Behrens said.
Burton had run the whole experience of the youth court system and was now a "failed graduate", he said.
Burton had been jailed twice as an adult and was on bail when the aggravated robbery occurred, Judge Behrens said.
Measures had been put in place to help him in the past, but he had reoffended so quickly none of them had had a chance to do so.
Judge Behrens said he was "shocked in a way" by letters expressing remorse that Burton had written to him and the victim.
"These are the letters of an intelligent and mature person."
He sentenced Burton to four years jail giving him credit for his guilty plea and his youth.
"I think you should take a copy of those letters and pin them on your cell wall and read them every day."
Burton's co-accused have all pleaded not guilty.
- NZPA
