Teen in custody for dairy robbery

A teenage Canterbury farm worker is in custody awaiting sentence after admitting the knife-point robbery of a dairy.

Sebastian David James Mann, 19, of Balmoral, pleaded guilty at a call-over session where a date would have been set for his jury trial for the November 19 robbery of the Sunlake Dairy in Opawa.

Christchurch District Court Judge Michael Crosbie called for a report on Mann's suitability for home detention as part of the pre-sentence report for his sentencing on June 23.

But he refused bail pending sentence, saying the starting point for the aggravated robbery jail term was likely to be longer than four years before it was reduced for Mann's guilty plea.

He said Mann had used a disguise and had changed the number plates on his car before going to the dairy, where there was a sole woman shop assistant.

He had pressed a 34cm-long knife against the woman's side, and got away with cash and cigarettes.

Judge Crosbie said the raid had been planned, and was carried out against a vulnerable victim on her own.

He noted Mann had previous convictions for burglary and receiving stolen property.

Mann is also to be sentenced for stealing petrol worth $70 from an Addington service station.

- NZPA