Robbery ‘for raging drug habit’

Press, 21 November 1981, Page 4

Robbery ‘for raging drug habit’

A man, who beat up a shopkeeper and robbed him of more than $3OOO to get money to supply his raging drug addiction, was jailed for four years by Mr Justice Hardie Boys in the High Court yesterday. John Christopher Sharnock, aged 23, a prison inmate, had pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated robbery and unlawfully taking a car. The term is to be served concurrently with his present sentence of six. years for bank robbery. The police statement said that on the evening of February 26, 1978, John Neil Martin, the owner of a shop in Cashmere Road, and his assistant, Simon Tubailagi, were counting the takings in the flat above the shop when three masked men burst into the room. One was armed with a pick-axe handle, but it was not Sharnock. When the intruders demanded that the money be handed over a fight developed. While one of Sharnock’s associates subdued Mr Tubailagi with the pick-axe handle, Sharnock subdued Mr Martin by punching him about the head and kicking him in the groin. He then forced him to the floor where his hands were taped behind his back. Sharnock admitted that he was the principal offender. He received about $lOOO which he spent on hard drugs, mainly heroin. Sharnock said that he had committed the robbery solely to obtain money to support his

raging drug habit. On Jupe 18, 1981, Sharnock, was sentenced to six years imprisonment in the Christchurch High Court on a charge of. aggravated robbery at tjie Bank of New Zealand agency in Woolston. The car for the robbery was taken from Tuam Street and belonged to Gary William Henham. No money was recovered and Sharnock refused to name his associates. Mr G. Steele, for Sharnock, said that since his imprisonment Sharnock had shown , a positive attitude. He had withdrawn from drugs and was taking treatment. Sharnpek deeply regretted the offence and had made a full confession so that he could come out of prison after serving his sentence with a clear conscience. His Honour said that back in 1978 Sharnock and two others, all masked, had burst into a shopkeeper’s flat while he was counting the day’s takings with his assistant, beat them up, tied them up and then made off with $3OOO in a converted car. Sharnock admitted being the leader of the trio and said that he needed the money to support his heroin addiction but that was no excuse. “It seems you have come to your senses now you are in prison for bank robbery. In view of that and the material before me there appears to be no justification for me to extent your six year term,” said his Honour.