Court hears of frying basket defence
A whack with a deep frying basket put a dent in John Raymond Walsh’s attempt to rob a Christchurch fish and chip shop.
The only person hurt in Walsh’s methamphetamine-fuelled aggravated robbery attempt on December 7 was Walsh himself.
The shop owners and customers grabbed him and held him until the police arrived.
He was jailed today in the Christchurch District Court for two years three months for the attempted armed robbery using a knife and for burglary of a Dunedin liquor shop. He had pleaded guilty.
When the 33-year-old committed the robbery, he was on bail on the burglary charge and was subject to prison release conditions.
Walsh has served several prison terms. He has a manslaughter conviction – also involving a knife – in 2003 and other convictions for burglary, violence, and possession of weapons.
Defence counsel Phillip Allan said Walsh had taken methamphetamine before the offence, and had fixated about visiting his daughter in Keri Keri at Christmas. “He told me that if he had not been on methamphetamine, he probably would have just Skyped her.”
Crown prosecutor Aja Trinder called for a deterrent sentence that took account of the need for the safety of the community.
Judge Brian Callaghan said Walsh went to the fish and chip shop in the early hours of the morning, wearing a balaclava and brandishing an open pocket knife. Three customers were in the shop.
When he brandished the knife at the shop owner, the man grabbed it and threw it into the waiting area. He then tried to stop Walsh by hitting him with a deep frying basket.
Walsh tried to grab the till but was seized by the owner and the customers and held till police arrived. Judge Callaghan said the members of the public had acted responsibly in holding and restraining him.
Category: News
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