‘Entrenched’ gang influence on man who robbed former refugee

A man who robbed a Burmese former refugee with two others came from a family where almost every adult was linked to the Mongrel Mob, a judge said.

James Barton-Tauroa, 23, appeared via audiovisual link at Nelson District Court on Tuesday, having pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and wilful damage to police cells.

His associate, Joel Thompson, was sentenced earlier this month. A third man has pleaded not guilty.

The police summary of facts said the victim, who had little English, was waiting for a taxi near the roundabout at Parkers and Bolt roads on October 23 last year.

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After offering the man a ride, Barton-Tauroa, Thompson and their associate drove to Tosswill Rd, where the third man allegedly assaulted him. Pulling out a 10 centimetre switchblade, the associate took the victim’s man’s wallet, cellphone and car key from his pocket and demanded his PIN number, the summary said.

Barton-Tauroa’s lawyer Michael Vesty said his client had been in custody since November 3. This had acted as a “break in the circuit”, and “got him out of a downward spiral”.

From the age of 16, Barton-Tauroa was “on a slippery slope to achieving nothing”, Vesty said.

He’d dropped out of school without any qualifications, and he had lost his jobseekers benefit because he was unable to pass a drug test, and had an “unhealthy dependence” on cannabis.

With few stable adults in his life and his parents in and out of prison, he’d had a “chaotic childhood”, moving constantly, which prevented him forming connections.

It wasn’t until his grandfather “took the reins” that he had someone he could rely on, Vesty said.

When his koro died in 2018, Barton-Tauroa turned to alcohol to numb the pain, as he didn’t know how to cope with that grief or loss.

Barton-Tauroa had “no education or prospects” or hope, and the gang influence was entrenched, Vesty said.

Judge Jo Rielly said the victim, who had thought he was going to die during the incident, described being “very sad” for two days after being robbed.

“The three of you acted together, increasing the level of fear for the victim,” she said.

The judge noted that although Barton-Tauroa was not a patched gang member, almost every adult member of his family was “either a patched up or associated member of the Mongrel Mob gang”.

“You need to think long and hard, not only about your drug use, but also about the lifestyle you choose to lead. You’re still such a young man, with a lifetime of opportunity in front of you,” she said.

Barton-Tauroa was sentenced to five months home detention, with several conditions including that he not possess or use alcohol or drugs.