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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Drug-addicted con handed five years for robbery spree
So it's no surprise that one of his victims earlier this year began suffering chest pains after Bennett handed her a note, claiming he had a gun and demanding money. No weapon was ever seen.
The teller was ultimately treated and released from hospital.
Bennett, 26, was sentenced to five years in prison for a 15-day spree that saw him hit six different banks in late February and early March.
He was out on parole at the time -- for convictions that included a prior robbery -- and has 30 other past offences on his record.
Bennett's spree came to an end after his own mother turned him in to police, court was told. He had been considered a suspect and his mother immediately recognized him after viewing images taken from bank surveillance cameras.
Crown and defence lawyers had made a joint recommendation for a sentence in the range of three to five years.
Provincial court Judge Mary Curtis expressed concern about it being on the "low end" but ultimately went along, noting the Manitoba Court of Appeal has told judges to only overturn plea bargains in the rarest of circumstances.
Defence lawyer Saul Simmonds read a written statement from his client which blames his criminal activity on his addictions.
"I wish I realized I had a problem before it came to this," Bennett wrote.
"I saw this as stealing money to feed my habit. I now know I stole someone's sense of trust, security and their right to work."
www.mikeoncrime.com
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 2, 2007 $sourceSection$sourcePage
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