Not the cleverest of heists

New Zealand - 17-year-old Tony Wilson was gasping for a smoke. He had no money but enough drugs and alcohol in his system to try to rob a Carterton dairy where he was known by the owners.

Wilson was so intoxicated that, armed with a plastic toy gun, he botched the holdup and ended up trying to write an IOU for the cigarettes.

Masterton District Court was told yesterday how the escapade unravelled.

About 5.30pm on June 17, an elderly resident saw Wilson, wearing a black balaclava, hanging around outside the High St dairy at the southern end of Carterton's main road. Concerned for her safety, she told the shop's owner of the young man lingering outside. As she left, the shop owner escorted her out.

Wilson at that point had removed the balaclava and was walking toward the shop owner – who immediately recognised him. They exchanged a friendly greeting.

About five minutes later, the doorbell sounded in the shop and Wilson – who had pulled the balaclava back over his head – stormed in, pointed a black plastic toy cap pistol at the shop owner and said: "Gimme the money."

The owner, who figured the gun was a toy, said: "I know you. You shouldn't do this to me." So Wilson changed his demand to: "Gimme Pall Mall Filter." But the dairy owner challenged him, saying: "I'm not giving you cigarettes but I will let you tick them up." He handed Wilson a pen and paper.

As Wilson began writing out the IOU a customer walked in. He ripped off the balaclava and then, as his name was called, bolted.

Police picked him up soon after at the southern end the town as he attempted to hitch-hike to his parents' home in Greytown.

When he sobered up, he told police that he had been drinking alcohol and taking party pills throughout the weekend and because he was craving a cigarette, behaved stupidly. Wilson, who pleaded guilty to a charge of demanding with menaces, was discharged without conviction.

The judge said the decision, in the face of strong police opposition, was based on Wilson's young age and the consequences of a conviction for a job-seeker in a small rural town.

He ordered Wilson to pay $1000 to the dairy owner for emotional harm.