A Masterton man who participated in an Auckland ram-raid and later stole a child’s scooter was sentenced to supervision after spending 152 days in police custody.
Jaykob Harmon, a 24-year-old with 38 prior convictions, appeared in Masterton District Court last week after admitting to stealing the scooter, being unlawfully in a yard, and to two counts of unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle.
Early in the morning of September 25, 2022, Harmon and four others stole two cars in Green Lane, Auckland.
The first car was driven onto the footpath, through bollards and into the storefront of King St Superette in Pukekohe.
Harmon remained outside the store while the burglary took place.
The second car was used in an aggravated robbery of Drury Mini Food Market, where cash and cigarettes were stolen – Harmon also remained outside during this aggravated robbery, so he was only charged with two counts of unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle.
The other two charges were for later offending: on June 13, 2023, he entered the enclosed yard of a Carterton property without permission and stole a scooter.
Judge Nicola Wills said Harmon knew the victim, and the brand-new scooter, which belonged to the victim’s child, was valued at $500.
He rode it back to his house.
Defence lawyer Mike Kilbride sought supervision for his client, saying the 152 days he had already spent in police custody should satisfy the punitive aspect of the sentence.
“He’s making pro-social choices, and it’s anticipated he will go to his sister’s house,” Kilbride said.
“He wants to stand on his own two feet and doesn’t want to be a burden; this support will be important for this young man.”
Manukau Crown Prosecutor Simran Gill said the crown had withdrawn its earlier aggravated robbery charges against Harmon but was still seeking reparations for half the insurance excess of the two stolen cars – the other half to come from a co-offender.
Judge Wills said she accepted that the 152 days spent in police custody was sufficient to satisfy the punitive aspect of the sentence.
She said moving in with his supportive sister was “a step in the right direction.”
Harmon was sentenced to 12 months of supervision and ordered to pay $450 reparation to the owners of the two stolen cars.
