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Offender Databases Gareth Kingston

Gareth Tyron Kingston

Alias

Gareth Tyron Welch

Offences

Armed robbery of a Rotorua takeaway shop in September 2009

Victims

.

Offender Affiliations

Rangi Tonihi

Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1985

Current Location

Unknown

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to 2 years 3 months in April 2010
Later reduced to 2 years on appeal

Background
From the Daily Post (Rotorua) 17th April 2010
A 22-year-old Rotorua man who robbed two female staff at a Rotorua takeaway shop at knifepoint, leaving them "emotionally upset", has been sent to jail. Rangijudge Tonihi was sentenced to three and a half years' jail on a charge of aggravated robbery when he appeared before Judge Robert Kerr in the Rotorua District Court yesterday.

Tonihi and Gareth Tyron Kingston aka Welch, 24, went to the Mitchell Downs Takeaway armed with a knife on September 28 last year. Tonihi robbed two staff members of cash and cigarettes valued about $1000 as Kingston sat outside in a car as the get-away driver. As Tonihi walked through the doors of the takeaway he yelled out "this is a hold-up" to the two staff and two young boys in the shop. Both Tonihi and Kingston pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated robbery at previous appearances.

The owners of the shop, who have since sold the business, Melissa Davies and Callan Hose told The Daily Post they were pleased with the sentence but the incident was one of the reasons they sold. The two girls working that night were only 18 and 20, Ms Davies said. "One of them was really affected. She wouldn't work on a Monday night after the robbery," Ms Davies said. "The police have been really great throughout and have kept us fully informed."

Prior to Tonihi being sentenced, lawyer Harry Edward handed a letter to the judge from his client telling the court he was sorry, and was trying to turn his life around. Judge Kerr said the robbery was frightening for the people involved. He also noted Tonihi had 28 previous convictions - two violence related. "I hope for your sake what you say is correct so you can turn your life around so when you are released you can get on with your life," he said. The judge said a jail term of four-and-half years was appropriate and took off one year for Tonihi's early guilty plea. Kingston will be sentenced next week.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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