Police want help to get escaper

Press, 24 October 1984, Page 1

Police want help to get escaper

The police have appealed to the public for help in tracking down a convicted bank robber who escaped from Paparua Prison last week. John Chris Sharnock, aged 26, used a Justice Department motor-cycle in his escape from the prison at 3.15 p.m. on Thursday. He is 188 cm (6ft 2in) tall, of medium build, with brown hair and green eyes. He has tattoos on the arms. The police say he should not be approached. Sharnock has served jast over half of a six-year sentence for the armed robbery of the Ferry Road branch of the Bank of New Zealand in May, 1981. Armed with a double-bar-rel, sawn-off shotgun and wearing a rubber mask over his head, Sharnock forced the i bank’s staff to hand over $17,000. He fled in a stolen car, and later transferred into the boot of a waiting taxi, which took him to Nelson. He was arrested in Wellington a few days after the

robbery. Sharnock eventually made a full confession, and helped the police recover some of the money taken in the raid. He accompanied detectives to the Springs Jnnc-tion-Murchison area in an unsuccessful attempt to find money and property he had hidden. The High Court was told that he had consumed numerous diet pills and smoked cannabis when hiding the loot, and was so under the influence of drugs that he was unable to remember where he had left it Up to $3OOO was not recovered. While in prison in November, 1981, Sharnock admitted his involvement in the robbery of a Cashmere shopkeeper almost four years earlier. His confession led to a further appearance in court, and a four-year prison sentence to be served concurrently with the sixyear term for the bank robbery. Mr Justice Hardie Boys

was told that the owner of the shop and his assistant were counting the takings in a flat above the shop when three masked men burst into the room. A fight developed, and while one of Sharnock’s accomplices subdued the assistant with a pick-axe handle, Sharnock punched the shop owner about the head and kicked him in the groin. The trio made off with $3OOO. The Court was told that Sharnock robbed the shopkeeper to get money to supply his “raging” drug addiction. Counsel for Sharnock, Mr G. Steele, said at the time that his client had shown a positive attitude since his imprisonment. He had withdrawn from drugs and was taking treatment. Sharnock 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, Mr Steele said.