Employee helped ‘rob’ workplace

A GOLD Coast man has pleaded guilty to a taking part in a “fake robbery”.

Kyle Colin Street, 24, met with two acquaintances to discuss how they would “rob” an Upper Coomera convenience store he worked at in July 2013, the Southport District Court was told yesterday.

On the night of the robbery, Street, 19 at the time, walked into a room with a bag of rubbish about 7.30pm when his co-accused walked into the store brandishing a 4in blade.

Street feigned shock as his friend stood over him with the weapon, held his neck and “forced” him to clear out the store’s safe. The man made off with more than $6600.

Street alerted police of the “robbery” before he had an anxiety attack so severe he had to be hospitalised. Two weeks later he received about $1100 for his part in the robbery.

Last year in the Southport Magistrates Court, Street pleaded guilty to stealing by servant and making a false verified statement. It was later discovered that his charge of stealing by servant, which has a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, should have been heard in the district court.

Yesterday, Judge Catherine Muir ordered Street complete 108 hours of community service within 12 months and pay more than $2200 in restitution. No conviction was recorded.