Bank robbery admitted

Press, 28 May 1981, Page 8

Bank robbery admitted

An unemployed labourer convicted of the armed robbery of the Woolston branch of the Bank of New Zealand earlier this month had told the police that he committed the offence because he had been out of work for eight months and needed some ready cash. John Christopher Sharnock, aged 22, admitted in the District Court yesterday that being armed with a shotgun he robbed Robert McDonald, aged 19, a member of the bank’s staff, of $16,500, on May 5. He also admitted converting a $l5OO car. Sharnock was convicted on both charges by Judge Paterson who remanded him in custody for sentencing by the High Court. Detective-Sergeant J. D. Ell said . the Ferry Road premises of the bank, situated opposite a police station, opened for business at 10 a.m. on May 5.

It was staffed by. two persons, one of whom was Mr McDonald.

About 11.30 a.m., the defendant wearing a flesh-co-loured mask and a red scarf over the lower part of his face, entered the bank, produced the sawn-off shotgun and told McDonald to fill a brown bag with money. While he was doing this Sharnock had jumped up on the counter to see what was happening. When full he took the bag and rushed out to a waiting car, driven by an alleged cooffender. He jumped in and the car moved off.

Sergeant Ell said this car was later found empty only 400 yards from the bank.

As a result of extensive inquiries the defendant was traced to the West Coast, Nelson and Wellington where, in the capital, he was arrested in his girl-friend's flat.

In Sharnocks possession was found cash and notes totalling $2201, $7O in Australian money. $1366 of Australian travellers’ cheques, an air ticket to Brisbane, a quantity of new clothing, a pistol and some ammunition.

Sharnock admitted committing the robbery. He said he had earlier told his alleged co-offender of his plans to rob a bank.

On the day of the robbery the pair had driven around the Woolston area and had stopped to smoke cannabis cigarettes. The shotgun had been loaded with two cartridges of buckshot and while in the bank Sharnock had flicked the safety catch on and off “just to show the staff that he was not joking,” said Sergeant Ell.

Of the money stolen, said Sergeant Ell, the alleged cooffender was given $7OOO. Travelling north by way of

the Lewis Pass the defendant had buried $6OOO and the shotgun in the bush. Sergeant Ell said the defendant, after being arrested, had gone back to the Springs Junction area but efforts to locate the buried money and the gun had been unsuccessful.

Sharnock considered he was unable to locate where the money w’as stashed because he had been under the influence of cannabis and diet pills at the time.

The defendant told the police that he would have used the shotgun if he had to, said Sergeant Ell. i Compensation of $6041 was sought from the defendant. , Sergeant Ell said the alleged co-offender, who is jointly charged with the armed robbery, was remanded in custody to June .19 for the taking of depositions. j