Six years jail for opal ‘bandit’

Press, 24 February 1977, Page 3

Six years jail for opal ‘bandit’

(PA Auckland I An. Australian who com(mitted what a Judge described as a “very desperate (and serious crime” was (yesterday sentenced to six (years jail and recommended (for deportation after serving (the sentence. I Steven James Day was; 1 appearing before Mr Justice! I Coates after having pleaded; I guilty to aggravated robbery. (The court heard that he had I • robbed a couple of $BO,OOOl (worth of opals while armed! I with an air pistol. I His Honour said that Day] had committed the offence; (within two months of his ar-; • rival from Australia. His co-1 (offender had eluded the; (police and had still not been arrested.

! The two men had gone to . a house in a secluded spot .at Waiatarua with the in- , tention of robbing the house- ; holder of the opals. Day had . been disguised with a balai clava and had pointed the , pistol at the householder. ’ who had answered a knock .(at the door. J There had been a struggle (land Day’s companion had hit the man over the head i| with a heavy instrument, i(They had then confronted I (the defenceless wife with (the pistol and had held her .(by the hair. They had terro- , rised her until they had been (Igiven a satchel containing .(the opals and the keys to ,'her car. ( “I cannot possibly overlook the very grave elements imrnlxrarl in thic corim ta

involved m this serious crime,” his Honour said. He took into account that the air pistol had not been loaded, that Day had been! co-operative with the police, and that the opals had been (recovered. Day had acted as la bandit and would be (treated as a bandit.