A drug addict who raided two Christchurch businesses while armed with a machete was jailed for three years by Christchurch District Court Judge Graeme Noble today.
Michael Colin Sturgess, 21, was convicted of one charge of aggravated burglary and one of aggravated robbery, the Christchurch Court News website reported.
Judge Noble told him one of his victims, a woman he had demanded money from in a service station, was so traumatised she had to give up her job.
He said that Sturgess, who was intoxicated on substances at the time, had been offending for about six years.
He read out a report from Sturgess' employer who described him as a valued staff member, reliable, friendly and well liked. He was able to finish off concreting jobs to a high standard.
"Not all hope for your future is lost," said the judge.
He said the pre-sentence report said he had gambling, alcohol, and drug addictions.
Sturgess went to an Indian takeaway restaurant with a shirt tied around his lower face and a T-shirt over his head.
He brandished a machete at the owner who ran from the store. Sturgess left without taking anything, but went to a service station in the same disguise.
A woman attendant opened the cash drawer, and Sturgess grabbed a handful of cash and took off.
Judge Noble jailed him for three years and disqualified him for driving for six months for a separate breath-alcohol offence. He was discharged for breaches of bail and community work.
