A teenager involved in a brazen smash-and-grab robbery at a Michael Hill Jewellers store in January has been handed a "crushing" sentence, with the judge emphasising that this kind of crime has become "endemic" and must be deterred.
A video shot by an onlooker in January showed four offenders wearing masks and armed with weapons smashing cabinets and seizing jewellery as alarms and smoke cannons went off.
It was the third time in 10 months the Michael Hill store at Bayfair Shopping Centre was targeted.
Cyress Martin, 18, received a six-year prison sentence for his role in the aggravated robbery of Michael Hill Jewellers at Bayfair, along with another aggravated robbery at a Whakatāne dairy. Martin was part of a group of six who, masked and armed, stole two getaway vehicles before raiding the Bayfair jewellery store in Mount Maunganui last January. Armed with a knife, Martin and his accomplices smashed cabinets, threatened staff, and made off with nearly $280,000 worth of jewellery.
Martin also participated in the robbery of Mananui Dairy in Whakatāne, where he assaulted a victim before stealing the cash register and tobacco products, using another stolen car as the getaway vehicle.
At Martin's recent sentencing, Judge Thomas Ingram highlighted the teen's extensive criminal history, noting that previous rehabilitation efforts had failed. Martin had amassed over 20 convictions and 37 court appearances.
"Enough's enough," declared Judge Ingram, The New Zealand Herald reported. "At 18, he has been before the court a great deal. We've tried everything that can be tried, and nothing has made the slightest difference." The judge noted that Martin's persistent offending showed no signs of stopping.
Emphasising the need for a strong deterrent, Judge Ingram stated, "Unless or until the courts approach offending of this kind with significant deterrent sentences, it is likely to continue as it has over the last few years."
Despite relentless advocacy from Martin's lawyer, Rachael Adams, who highlighted his difficult upbringing and argued against a "crushing" sentence, the judge remained firm. Adams pointed out Martin's challenging start in life, likely affected by fetal alcohol syndrome, and his recent participation in a restorative justice conference where he showed some acknowledgment of his wrongdoing. She requested a 20% discount for Martin's youth, as was applied to his co-offender Cypris Buchanan, who received two years and four months' imprisonment.
However, Judge Ingram noted that Buchanan's record was less extensive and that Martin's need for deterrence and public safety outweighed considerations of his age and background. Adams argued that it was not too late for Martin to be rehabilitated, but the judge decided to leave the matter to the Parole Board.
Crown Solicitor Anna Pollett acknowledged Martin's troubled background but emphasised the necessity of imprisonment to protect the community and reflect the harm caused by his crimes. Reports indicated Martin had a high risk of reoffending and harming others. He admitted committing the robbery after an argument with his girlfriend, seeking an outlet for his anger.
Judge Ingram began with a starting point of six years for the Bayfair robbery, adding five years for the Mananui dairy robbery and one year for the stolen vehicles, reaching a total of 12 years. However, he applied various discounts for Martin's guilty pleas, limited remorse, age, and background, resulting in a six-year sentence with no minimum non-parole period.
Ram raids and smash-and-grab robberies have surged in recent years, drawing significant public attention. Martin's case is not isolated; other young offenders, such as Arthur Ashby and Te Peeti Melahkai Allen, have also received substantial prison sentences for similar crimes.
Retail NZ's chief executive, Carolyn Young, acknowledged the complexity of dealing with youth offending but stressed the need for appropriate sentencing. While she was uncertain if tougher sentences would reduce retail crime, she believed they provided some reassurance to retailers that the courts recognised the stress and loss caused by such offenses.
"They're looking for repercussions," said Young. "If someone gets six months for an aggravated robbery, where they've used weapons and terrorized staff and stolen expensive items, it doesn't seem that there's a balance. So after the fact, when something has occurred and someone's been arrested, the stores are looking for something equivalent to the action that's been taken.
ISSUE
-3.jpg)
