Robbers blow their loot

Westbrook Tavern was the target of two aggravated robberies within a fortnight. Photo / Stephen Parker

Armed robbers who stole more than $10,000 from a Rotorua tavern blew most of it within 24 hours, a court has heard.

Tane Huta, 22, Reginald Karaitiana, 18, and a 16-year-old youth appeared in the Rotorua District Court on Friday for sentencing in relation to the armed robberies of the Westbrook Tavern on June 30 and July 10 last year.

Huta, charged with both robberies, was sentenced to six years and five months in jail. Karaitiana, charged with the second robbery, was jailed for five years and one month. The youth was charged with the first robbery and was jailed for four years. All had pleaded guilty to the charges.

Judge Chris McGuire said that on the morning of June 30, Huta, the youth, who was then 15, and two others stole a car from the Rotorua Hospital car park. About 12.30pm they went to the tavern on Malfroy Rd, with Huta driving.

Huta remained in the car while the others entered the tavern, disguised with scarves and hoodies.

The youth carried a crowbar. His associates had a hammer and a knife.

One held a knife to the barman's chest and made him open the till and a locked cupboard. They got away with $10,155.60.

"The majority of the money was spent within 24 hours on cars and alcohol," the judge said.

About 7.35pm on July 10, Huta and Karaitiana returned to the tavern armed with a crowbar, making off with $435, which was spent a short time later.

In his victim impact statement the barman said he feared for his life and had since given up his job fearing another robbery.

Judge McGuire said the pre-sentence reports for Huta and Karaitiana were "bleak".

Both had a number of previous convictions and Huta was just two months into a sentence of intensive supervision at the time of the robberies.

Judge McGuire said the 16-year-old had been doing well on remand at a youth justice facility, showing leadership skills and a talent for music.

"If you prefer the gang [life] well you might as well tell me right now and I will save my breath," the judge told him. "That ain't much of a life."

A fourth man, Horima Tamati, was previously jailed for five years for the first Westbrook Tavern robbery.