Father’s Day crime spree

Drink-affected dad uses toy gun in holdups

A CORIO dad has been jailed for a series of armed robberies committed on Father’s Day last year while his family thought he was asleep on the couch.

In 27 minutes, Dean Thorburne attempted to rob three service stations and a brothel on the morning of September 3.

Thorburne was only successful in one, fleeing with $140 cash from a Caltex station on Thompson Rd, Norlane.

The 42-year-old was jailed for five years and seven months after pleading guilty in Geelong County Court yesterday to armed robbery and attempted armed robbery.

It all started soon after Thorburne snuck out of his Franklyn St home while his wife and children slept.

Hours earlier, the concreter had been drinking heavily at a Father’s Day dinner before returning home.

At 12.10am and 2.30am, his wife phoned, asking when he was coming to bed, with the father-of-four saying: “Shortly.”

But at 5.07am, Thorburne was wearing a mask at the door of the Lorraine Starr brothel on Malop St where he was trying to force his way inside.

After failing, he jumped in his car and went to the Caltex service station in Norlane.

On the way, he phoned his wife to apologise for being drunk and stupid, but did not say what he was doing.

At 5.18am, a masked Thorburne pulled up to the service station and pointed a toy gun at a female worker, saying: “Give us all the f---ing money”.

He made off with $140 cash before again phoning his wife to apologise.

Ten minutes later, he pointed the imitation gun at an employee checking fuel levels at 7-Eleven in Corio.

After he told him, “Open the doors or I’ll shoot you”, the terrified worker said, “Don’t do this”, before running to the Corio police station.

Thorburne then turned his attention to a BP service station in Norlane, aiming the toy gun at a female worker before police officers caught him in the act. He jumped in his car and sped away before returning home to bed 30 minutes later. He was arrested that day. The court heard it was the second time Thorburne had robbed the 7-Eleven store in less than two years.

He told the court he was deeply remorseful and hated himself because of his actions.

“I would just like to offer my deepest and sincere apologies to the victims I have hurt in the process,” he said. “I’m disgusted in myself.” Defence lawyer Michael Brugman said Thorburne had mental health issues that were exacerbated by alcohol use.

Judge Geoffrey Chettle accepted he was significantly affected by alcohol, but said it was “no excuse” for the crimes.

Judge Chettle said Thorburne had “terrorised” the service station workers and noted the community was sick of robbers hitting soft targets.

He set Thorburne a nonparole period of three years. With time served, he will be eligible for release in September 2020.