SUPREME COURT P.O. robbery earns gaol

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34105, 18 March 1976, Page 7

SUPREME COURT P.O. robbery earns gaol

A man, who "coerced and terrorised the staff of the Spreydon Post Office with a replica pistol in a blatant robbery” was gaoled for three years and a half by Mr Justice Somens in the Supreme Court yesterday. The man, David John Niblett, aged 24, unemployed, was found guilty by a jury on a charge of robbery. Niblett was ordered to servp the sentence concurrently with his present term. Evidence was given at the trial that Niblett dashed into the Spreydon Post Office about 4.20 p.m. on September 30 wearing a stocking over his head with slits for eyeholes. He leapt on to a counter, waved a replica pistol about, and slsouted: ’“This is for real."

He abused, threatened, and swore at the staff and snatched a total of SBO7 from cash drawers. Niblett was arrested in Sydney and made a detailed statement admitting the offence. During his trial Niblett denied being responsible for the robbery and said that he had con-

fessed to it because h. was beaten up by detectives in Sydney and Christchurch. Mr T. M. Abbott, for the prisoner, said that Niblett had given evidence that he had been drinking on the day of the offence and had taken six Mogodon tablets. The medical and probation officer’s reports showed that Niblett was an immature, impulsive, unstable, and naive individual with a desire to draw attention to himself, Mr Abbott said.

His Honour said that since November Niblett bad six convictions for theft, five for burglary, and one for false pretence. "You have been fined, put on probation, sentenced to periodic detention and Imprisonment, and you are now involved in a very serious crime indeed. "It is little to the point that the gun was only a replica. You coerced and terrorised the bank staff in a blatant robbery. That you took only $BOO was fortuitous and lucky. “There is no doubt that you are a man of at least average intelligence. There is also no doubt that you are work-shy .and that you have decided that you would prefer to live by stealing rather than working. “The crime upon which you now appear for sentence is one which calls for a deterrent Sentence both for yourself jand ;for others who might contemplate such a venture as well as for the protection of society,” said his Honour.