Rotorua man jailed for kidnap and robbery

A Rotorua man who kidnapped and robbed a terrified teenager because it was like the thrill of playing the PlayStation game Grand Theft Auto has been jailed for three years.

Cory Daniel Blue Gawith, 20, bushman, had earlier pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated robbery and kidnapping of the teenager last November 20.

Gawith also pleaded guilty to charges of burglary and theft.

Gawith and a young associate had approached the 18-year-old Aucklander at a money machine on Fenton St.

When their demands for cash were unsuccessful, they demanded his car keys and got into his vehicle.

They also stole his cellphone and money card.

Gawith drove while his associate, who was armed with a tyre iron, got into the back seat with the teenager.

During a wild ride around the Eastern Bay of Plenty, the car reached speeds of more than 140km/h, at one stage spinning into the wrong lane.

His captive eventually told him his PIN number which allowed Gawith to use the teen's eftpos card to buy a packet of cigarettes from a service station.

The pair let the teenager out of the car and gave him back his cellphone, but when he tried to call police he was ordered back into the vehicle.

The group drove to Kawerau where the pair fled, taking the teenager's CDs and cellphone with them. The victim, who was in an "extremely terrorised state", drove back to Rotorua and went to the police.

On his arrest Gawith told the police the experience "was like playing a PlayStation game called Grand Theft Auto."

Appearing for Gawith, Rob Vigor-Brown said his client had been read the victim impact report on the effect the kidnapping had on the teenager and was now very remorseful.

"The prisoner was shocked and very sorry for the victim. He was stunned at the report," he said.

Judge Phillip Cooper said it was heartening to hear Gawith was now feeling sorry for his actions.

"The victim impact reports indicate (the teenager) has become depressed and withdrawn and emotionally fragile. He was not sure he was going to get out of this alive.

"To you this may have been something of a game, but for him it was a very, very frightening experience with emotional consequences."

Judge Cooper said Gawith's remorse and the contents of a psychiatric report cut the length of sentence he might otherwise have received. Gawith had a schizophrenic condition, which had been made worse by smoking cannabis and drinking alcohol. He had also suffered a head injury in the past and consequently had learning difficulties.

"You were egged on by your young associate ... you need to be living in a structured environment away from criminal associates."

Gawith had also committed a burglary while on bail, a crime usually punishable by six months' imprisonment. Ordinarily this time would be added on to his sentence but because of the mitigating circumstances it would be included in the three years, Judge Cooper said.

- NZPA