A gun-toting criminal who went on a crime spree around Auckland, targeting Asian tourists, was on bail for similar offending at the time.
John Koteka, 35, was found guilty of seven charges – including aggravated robberies and reckless discharge of a firearm - at trial in August. In the High Court at Auckland this morning he was jailed for two and a half years.
Justice Mary Peters said the prison term would have been more than seven years but Koteka was already doing a lengthy stint for committing two violent home invasions and she could not give him a disproportionately long sentence.
It was revealed in court this morning that Koteka was on bail on February 17 when he caused havoc driving a bright blue Holden around tourist hotspots in central Auckland brandishing a firearm.
The offending came to a head as Koteka drove up Mt Eden on the sunny Sunday afternoon.
He robbed one tourist on his ascent to the summit and when he made it to the top, he grabbed a handbag containing cash, a passport and an iPad from a Korean woman.
When members of the tour party tried to thwart his escape he fired five shots into the ground before speeding off.
As he fled, two men clutched at the steering and wheel and were dragged for a short distance before losing their grip.
One suffered a broken finger but no one else was injured.
The court heard today how it all came only two months before he was due to be sentenced for previous serious offending.
Justice Peters said two aggravated robberies committed in South Auckland in March 2010 saw Koteka jailed for nearly 11 years in April 2014.
Though he was initially remanded in custody on those charges, he was released on bail when there were delays to the trial.
With the addition of today's sentence, Koteka now faces a total jail term of 13 years and three months.
He will serve a minimum of six and a half years.
Justice Peters said his 20 previous convictions had come in three bursts between 1993 and 2010.
"That indicates you're quite capable of conducting yourself within the law if you choose to," she said.
"I very much hope that at the conclusion of this sentence you'll choose that path."
By Rob Kidd of NZME News Service
