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Pharmacy robbery getaway driver jailed
The get-away driver for the armed robberies of two Christchurch pharmacies was sentenced to five years prison in the Christchurch District Court today.
Stephen Edward Wells, 49, took two motor vehicles for the robberies, and drove Peter John Wafer to the Woodham Road pharmacy in early July 2010, then later in that month they went to the Bealey Avenue pharmacy.
Judge David Saunders said Wafer was the prime offender and terrified pharmacy staff with a weapon. Wells drove the get-away cars, and benefitted from the morphine and Ritalin taken.
They were stopped in Papanui Road after the Bealey Avenue robbery, and Wells was sentenced today on two aggravated robbery charges, two charges of unlawfully taking cars, and one driving while disqualified charge.
Defence counsel David Bunce said Wafer got a prison sentence of six years for his part in the offending, and for another pharmacy robbery earlier.??????????????????
He said both men had substantial previous offending lists, and both were drug addicted.
Judge Saunders said Wells was desperate for the morphine after his doctor stopped his supply while he was dealing with throat cancer.
He told Wells he would have to repeat the lessons in a drug treatment programme, as his chance of relapsing again must be strong.
He gave Wells the first of the warnings under the Government?s three-strikes law that imposes heavier penalties on repeat violent offenders.
