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Offender Databases Winston Young

Winston James Shane Young

Alias

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Offences

Armed robbery of the Palmerston North City Council in May 2006
Extensive criminal record since in 1977 including aggravated robberies in 1981 and 1989, assaulting and threatening to kill his ex-partner, possessing and discharging firearms, dishonesty convictions, anti social behaviour and driving offences

Victims

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Offender Affiliations

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Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1962

Current Location

Prison

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to 6 years 6 months in August 2009
This was cumulative with an existing term he was already serving

Background
From the Manawatu Standard 18th July 2009
A man found guilty of the 2006 armed council heist has two similar previous convictions, including one for robbing the Wellington City Council about 20 years ago. A High Court jury took about four hours yesterday to find Winston James Shane Young, 47, guilty of the aggravated robbery of the Palmerston North City Council on the last day for rates payment in 2006.

Kenneth Craig Woods, 63, who the Crown alleged was the brains behind the operation, was found not guilty. The Standard can now reveal Young was convicted of aggravated robbery in 1988 after he held up the Wellington City Council with a firearm. He has another conviction for the same charge from 1981, along with several for possessing and discharging firearms. It can also be revealed that Young was already in prison for beating and threatening to kill his ex- partner. That sentence is due to end in October.

His lawyer Robert Stevens asked Justice Alan MacKenzie for his criminal history to continue to be suppressed, but was denied. He was remanded for sentencing on August 14 for the council robbery. During the Palmerston North council robbery Young pointed a gun at two council staff as they tallied rates cash in the safe, leaving with about $42,000 in cash and more than $400,000 in cheques. The cash has never been recovered.

Woods lived with the victim of the hold up, Julie-Ann Robinson, and often referred to her as his partner. Police investigations involving Ms Robinson as a suspect in the crime came to an end in February last year. Woods' lawyer Peter Brosnahan said Crown claims it was an inside job were "rubbish", as anyone had access to the building.

There was no direct evidence to link Woods to the crime, only circumstantial evidence found by police "desperate to try and nail this man", he said. "The police have had a mindset from day one . . . and they have stuck to it." As Woods left the courtroom yesterday he called a Standard photographer a "dog" and threatened to break his leg.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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