Don’t dob or I’ll get you
A REPEAT armed robber told a Gold Coast hotel manager he’d “come and f--king get you” if he called police after the violent thief took almost $56,000 from the pokies and safe.
Terrence Knowles made the threat while he brandished a shotgun at two employees during a terrifying armed robbery of the Coomera Lodge Hotel in Oxenford about 11pm on June 18, 2018.
The 40-year-old – who had broken into a Mackay home six days earlier – had two accomplices, including one who was threatening the staff members with an electric cattle prod.
Knowles also had conducted eight armed robberies in South Australia, the Southport District Court was told.
Knowles pleaded guilty on Friday to armed robbery and possessing a weapon.
Judge Deborah Holliday sentenced Knowles to three years in prison with immediate release on parole.
Knowles has already spent almost three years in presentence custody and was released on bail in August.
“One hopes for the sake of the community and for yourself that you will not return to the use of methylamphetamine and become a contributing member to society or at least someone who doesn’t terrorise the community,” Judge Holliday said.
Crown prosecutor Jessica Guy told the court Knowles and two others went to the tavern while two employees were closing.
Knowles pointed the shotgun at them both and demanded they “get on your knees and don’t look up”.
She said Knowles then demanded keys to the cash registers and ordered them to open the gaming drawers.
Ms Guy said Knowles took the manager into the office and took his licence.
Knowles told him: “I’ve got your licence and if you call police I’ll come and f--king get you.”
She said Knowles ordered the manager to open the safe, but the manager lied and said it was on a five-minute timer.
Knowles pointed the gun at the manager and said: “You haven’t got five minutes, mate.”
The manager then opened the safe.
The trio managed to get a total of $55,897 in cash from the robbery.
Ms Guy said as they left Knowles told them to lock themselves in the office and reminded the manager he had his licence.
The next day, police caught up with Knowles, who tried to flee in a car, which he then crashed.
Defence barrister Stephen Kissick, instructed by Ide Lawyers, said that Knowles had a longstanding addiction to the drug ice, which was “cyclic”. Mr Kissick said that since being released on bail, Knowles had obtained work as a concreter, had stable living conditions and had been off the drug.