Robber who used taxi jailed for five years

A man who robbed a bank then got back in a taxi and continued his journey in Palmerston North last year has been jailed for five years. Robert Le Brazier, 38, admitted robbing the Westpac Bank in Terrace End.

Le Brazier appeared in Palmerston North District Court this week for sentencing on 23 new charges, including the robbery, his 11th charge for driving with excess breath alcohol, fourth for driving while disqualified and a string of dishonesty charges, most involving misuse of credit cards and theft of alcohol.

He was jailed for a total of five years.

Le Brazier thanked Judge Alistair Garland for the sentence, the Manawatu Standard reported. "I was expecting a lot longer sentence. Thank you. I will do my very best," he said.

At the time of the offence, Le Brazier believed he had a terminal illness. He was also suffering from the skin disease psoriasis, and hepatitis C.

Medical and psychiatric examinations have shown he did not have a terminal illness and was not mentally ill. Instead, his problem was alcohol.

- NZPA