\u201cIt\u2019s a very grim report; she is trying to move on, but it would have clearly had an impact on her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Judge Gilbert said the victim was vulnerable, alone, there were multiple attackers, a machete was wielded and there was premeditation in the group\u2019s offending. <\/p>\n
\u201cI have no doubt this would have been absolutely terrifying for the dairy owner.\u201d<\/p>\n
The aggravated robbery<\/p>\n
According to the summary of facts, partners Paige Kerr, 26, and Natasha Waiariki, 37, and their co-offenders Levi Le Comte, 19, Malakai Bennett, 18 and Ty Holderness-O\u2019Neill, 18, were at a Christchurch address in June 2025 when they planned the daytime robbery.<\/p>\n
Holderness-O\u2019Neill had stolen a car a couple of days earlier. <\/p>\n
They left the address in the stolen vehicle and headed for an On The Spot store on Hamill Rd in Halswell. <\/p>\n
About 30 minutes later they arrived, with four of them entering the store as Bennett waited in the driver\u2019s seat.<\/p>\n
Kerr brandished the machete while the rest of the group demanded money and cigarettes. <\/p>\n
Kerr and Holderness-O\u2019Neill jumped the counter and grabbed money, cigarettes, vapes and confectionery goods.<\/p>\n
Waiariki also stole a number of items. <\/p>\n
Le Comte recorded the robbery on his cellphone. <\/p>\n
The group then fled in the stolen car before Bennett drove them back to the address where they were subsequently arrested.<\/p>\n
Jail sentences for three of the robbers<\/p>\n
At their sentencing, Kerr and Waiariki were each jailed for three years and eight months and given first strike warnings as violent offenders for aggravated robbery.<\/p>\n
While Kerr had a moderate list of previous convictions for violence, dishonesty and weapons, a pre-sentence report showed there was some remorse and a \u201cflicker\u201d that he wanted to change, Judge Gilbert said.<\/p>\n
Waiariki had breached her parole conditions and had a long history of dishonesty and other convictions, and was considered high risk.<\/p>\n
The group was sentenced in the Christchurch District Court. <\/p>\n
Le Comte, who was also facing charges of assaulting a person in a family relationship and assaulting police, was on bail at the time of the robbery.<\/p>\n
Judge Gilbert sentenced him to two years and eight months\u2019 imprisonment and issued him a first strike warning as a violent offender.<\/p>\n
The court heard Holderness-O\u2019Neill had turned 18 a few days before the robbery.<\/p>\n
Judge Gilbert said he had cognitive issues, ADHD and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. <\/p>\n
Holderness-O\u2019Neill was young and a first-time offender, the judge acknowledged, sentencing him to 12 months\u2019 home detention. <\/p>\n
The court heard Bennett also had fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.<\/p>\n
He had turned 18 two months before the robbery.<\/p>\n
The judge said a psychologist\u2019s report showed he had a difficult childhood and was easily led.<\/p>\n
Bennett was sentenced to 11 months\u2019 home detention. <\/p>\n