Damian Moses St John, 27, was jailed for two years five months when he appeared in the Dunedin District Court last year.
After he served less than five months, the High Court, in a recently released judgement, ruled the sentence was manifestly excessive and converted it to seven months’ home detention.
On May 24, 2022, 26-year-old Koaitu Scott Munro was at a local bar and offered the victim a dollar for a cigarette.
With only a $5 note, Munro suggested the man put it into a nearby pokie machine to obtain change, but in doing so he won a $500 jackpot.
Munro claimed he was entitled to half of the winnings, but after advice from the publican, the victim went home with the cash.
The aggrieved defendant assembled a posse, which included St John, and they turned up at the man’s community housing facility.
When the victim and his friend saw them arrive, they locked themselves inside, but the men found their way in through another entrance, the court heard.
The terrified duo tried to barricade themselves in various rooms, but the robbers forced their way inside, demanding the money.
When one door shattered, two of the unidentified assailants brandished knives while they attacked the jackpot winner, who was "cowering in the foetal position".
On the way out, they also stole a games console and damaged a television, court documents said.
"This was serious offending and although Mr St John was not the principal offender, did not have a weapon and did not receive or seek any money from the victim, he was part of the mob that broke down two doors to reach the victims, who were attacked, frightened and injured," Justice Helen Cull said at appeal.
"I accept that Mr St John did not inflict any injury but he participated in a very frightening event for two very vulnerable victims."
However, the judge agreed with counsel Sarah Saunderson-Warner the defendant should have had further discounts from his sentence to reflect "[the] positive steps to rehabilitate himself, the three years since this offending and his responsibility as a father with a very young child ... to encourage Mr St John’s positive steps to become an integrated and productive member of the community".
The defendant would serve the remainder of his sentence with family in Tauranga.
