Jail for botched robbery

A BUNGLING wannabe bank robber who made his getaway through Geelong on a pushbike was jailed for almost four years yesterday.

Disguised in a wig and clothes bought at an op shop moments before the hold-up, Lee Blackler threatened two workers at Geelong’s Moorabool St Bendigo Bank branch on May 10 with a 15cm knife.

While the attempted robbery, did not net him any money, Geelong County Court heard the female tellers remained traumatised by their ordeal.

Blackler, now 56, told his supporters in court he was “happy” with the outcome after judge Paul Grant jailed him for three years and nine months on a count of attempted armed robbery.

Prosecutor Andrew Grant said security cameras showed students from years 9-12 on a tour of building sites yesterday for a behind-the-scenes look at trade careers.

The free event kicked off at The Gordon’s East Geelong campus and included tours of domestic and commercial sites across the region, such as Hamlan Homes’ townhouse development in Newtown and the City of Greater Blackler park his bike and go into the underground toilets on Moorabool St before entering the bank wearing a secondhand wig and with a scarf across his face.

He put a bag on the counter and twice told the tellers “put the money in the bag”, but the women told him they didn’t have access to money and that they had activated an alarm.

“This is bulls---,” Blackler said before hightailing it outside and jumping on his bike. Geelong’s Highton Enhanced Children’s Centre being built by Lyons Construction.

Norm Lyons, of Lyons Construction, said the program was timely in light of the industry’s skills and trade shortages in the Geelong area.

“Increasing young people’s knowledge about job opportunities and the diversity of occupations in the construc-

He disposed of the knife and some clothes during his getaway, but was caught on security cameras throughout the city and police arrested him at an East Geelong house that night.

“I f---ed up at the bank,” Blackler said on his arrest.

Mr Grant said Blackler spent six years in jail for holdups at Moolap’s The Peninsula Hotel, a BP service station in Breakwater and a convenience store on Sydney Pde, Geelong, in 2010.

Victim impact statements from the bank workers detailed the anguish and anxiety the crime caused.

The testimony said the women no longer felt safe in crowds or at home, had nightmares, struggled returning to work and needed counselling.

“He found that to be confronting … He was genuinely shocked to hear about the impact on the victims,” defence lawyer Heather Cooper said.

“He wished he didn’t do this. He wished he could go back in time, and if he could, he wouldn’t do this.”

Mr Grant heard Blackler’s father died before he was born and he’d endured a troubled upbringing before an adult life punctuated by crime and jails.

He said Blackler’s bank job was “not highly sophisticated, (but) it was planned … you used a disguise”.

With 127 days already served, Blackler will be eligible for parole after 2½ half years.