No parole for second-strike robber
A 22-year-old will serve all of his three-year jail term for a series of street robberies without any prospect of parole, because he is a second-strike offender.
Hayden James Hood was given the second-strike warning by Judge Alistair Garland in March when he pleaded guilty to four charges of aggravated robbery and one charge of assault with intent to rob.
In the Christchurch District Court today, Judge Garland imposed the sentence and told Hood he would have to serve all of it because when he committed the street crimes he had already had his first-strike warning.
Hood received his first strike warning for offending in 2012.
The system of “strikes” imposes heavier jail terms on repeat violent offenders.
Judge Garland said Hood had said he was under the influence of synthetic cannabis and other drugs at the time he committed the central Christchurch robberies.
In his pre-sentence interview with a probation officer, he spoke of his regret and remorse but the officer reported that he displayed minimal insight into the effects on his victims and what he needed to do to stop his offending behaviour.
He was assessed as a high risk of reoffending.
Hood had admitted circling on his bicycle in Southwark Street at 10.20pm on July 21, 2014, acting as a look-out while groceries were taken off the first victim, and he was asked to hand over his wallet. The victim fell over as he ran off.
Another man was walking home along Manchester Street the next night when he was approached and his MP3 player was taken. Hood stayed on his bike but pointed out that the victim had tobacco, which was taken.
The victim is of Irish descent. As he walked off, one of the men called out, “Welcome to New Zealand”.
The pair confronted another man on July 26, snatched his phone, and punched him to the ground where he was kicked to the head and chest.
The same day, another man was confronted and made to hand over cash and a cellphone. He was hit over the back of the head with a wrapped copy of The Weekend Press.
An hour after that, a man at a bus stop on Ferry Road was robbed of his iPod and earphones and was punched in the nose.
When Hood was interviewed, he admitted his involvement.
Hood was ordered to pay for half the losses to his victims. His share is $422.50.
Hood’s co-offender, Anthony John Wheble, 20, has pleaded guilty to the same charges and is scheduled for sentencing on October 30.
Category: Focus
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