Man jailed for three bank robberies

Robbing three Auckland banks without making any attempt to disguise himself has seen an Auckland man jailed for more than five years. File photo / NZ Herald

A man who robbed three Auckland banks while making no attempt to disguise himself has been sentenced to more than five years' jail.

Andrew Springall, 35, appeared in Auckland District Court today and heard three victim impact statements from the bank tellers who he had threatened with weapons for money.

Sentencing Springall to five years one month in jail, Judge Philippa Cunningham said it was an "unusual" case, as he had no previous convictions.

Springall had been suffering from depression throughout his life, the court was told.

He made a series of bad choices, and a prison sentence was inevitable, his lawyer said.

Springhall pleaded guilty to three charges of aggravated robbery on May 4. He was arrested after police inquiries into three armed robberies, all at National Bank branches in Auckland, and all on Fridays.

The robberies were at the Mt Albert branch on January 7, The Mall in Onehunga on July 23, and Dominion Road in Mt Eden on November 5.

- NZPA