Armed robber sentenced to seven years behind bars

Police investigating the armed robbery at the Selwyn Heights Four Square in October.

A Rotorua man has been sentenced to seven years behind bars on a string of charges, including robbing a Four Square with a loaded shotgun and holding up a bank.

Joshua John Morrison, 22, was sentenced in the Rotorua District Court yesterday to a total of seven years' imprisonment after previously pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated robbery.

He had also previously admitted charges of unlawful sexual connection with a young person, assault on a female, unlawfully taking a vehicle and breaching prison release conditions.

Judge Phillip Cooper said Morrison took a taxi to the Selwyn Heights Four Square on October 4 last year.

He robbed it with a sawn-off shotgun, taking about $600 to $700 in cash.

During the robbery he opened up and loaded the shot gun in front of the staff member.

"The threat implicit to the [victim] was a very frightening one," Judge Cooper said.

Days later, on October 9, Morrison drove a vehicle, which had been unlawfully taken, to the ANZ bank in Greerton where he entered the building partially disguised, carrying a note which said "this is a hold up".

He passed the note to the woman at the counter, carrying a bag with a stick inside which was made to look like a gun, and demanded money.

He fled with more than $5500.

Judge Cooper said Morrison's offending had greatly impacted his victims.

"The [victim] had to take time off work because of the stress she was under as a result of this incident.

"The same occurred with the [other victim] who is still fearful and anxious about what you did. The incident is still with him."

Judge Cooper said he could not decide which was the greater charge, as in the ANZ incident, no real weapon was used, but there was a greater degree of pre-meditation and more money was taken.

Morrison's lawyer Andy Schulze said a hurdle in a personal relationship had partially caused Morrison's offending to "spiral out of control".

In reaching the sentence Judge Cooper took into account Morrison's previous convictions, including multiple dishonesty charges, and his early guilty pleas.