Jail for bank robber who wore makeup

GUILTY PLEA: Mongrel Mob member Lance Ratima, 38, has been jailed for three years, four months over the aggravated robbery of Miramar PostShop and Kiwibank on December 22.

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A robber who piled on makeup in a bid to conceal his distinctive tattoos while holding up a bank has been sent to prison.

Lance Ratima, 38, unemployed, had pleaded guilty to the aggravated robbery of Miramar PostShop and Kiwibank on December 22 last year.

The Mongrel Mob member has a bulldog on his forehead and M13M on his chin, along with other tattoos that make him highly visible.

He went into the suburban Wellington bank and queued with three other customers before approaching one of two female tellers. He told one: "This is an armed holdup. Stay calm."

Ratima told them he had a gun and kept one hand in a pocket. While the teller was getting his money, eight other customers went through the bank. Two men were also in the bank servicing its ATM machine.

Before the robbery, Ratima had applied makeup to cover his tattoos and wore dark sunglasses and a hat.

Police were called when another customer realised what was happening, but Ratima had gone before they arrived. He later denied having anything to do with the robbery.

However, he pleaded guilty after Judge Peter Butler indicated he would jail him for three years and four months during a sentence indication hearing in Wellington District Court in April.

Yesterday, the judge jailed Ratima for the indicated period, saying he had got away with $3342 from the bank and it was never proved whether Ratima had a gun with him.

Judge Butler said Ratima had two previous convictions for aggravated robbery, for which he had done corrective training and been imprisoned.

Ratima's lawyer, Liz Hall, said he apologised and was remorseful. "He said he did not mean to freak anyone out."

- © Fairfax NZ News