PIZZA ROBBERY WARNING: ‘$200 IS NOT WORTH JAIL’
THE lookout for an attempted robbery at a pizza shop ran from the fast food place after the manager refused to hand over the dough, telling him it was not worth jail.
Hayden Michael Kight also repeatedly pushed the Pizza Hut worker who came running after him following the November 15, 2021 robbery at the Runaway Bay franchise.
Kight pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Wednesday to attempted robbery and common assault.
Judge Deborah Holliday sentenced the 22-year-old to two-and-a-half years’ prison with immediate release on parole. He has not spent any time in pre-sentence custody.
“You effectively acted as a lookout,” she said.
“You did not demand the money and it was not you who held the knife.
“You stood ready to render actual assistance by virtue of your presence in the store.”
The court was told Kight and Riley Jae Thompson allegedly went to the Runaway Bay Pizza Hut about 10.25pm on November 15.
It is alleged Thompson was armed with a knife. Thompson is still before the courts and is yet to enter a plea. Both Thompson and Kight were allegedly wearing masks. The court was told the manager originally thought the pair were taking extra Covid precautions.
Thompson allegedly demanded the manager hand over all the cash and brandished a knife.
Kight watched from the doorway. The manager tried to reason with the pair and told them: “$200 is not worth going to jail for”. The court was told Thompson responded that he had bills to pay.
“I don’t want to hurt anyone over it … the police won’t catch me,” Thompson allegedly said.
When it was clear they were not going to get any money Thompson and Kight allegedly fled. The manager followed them on foot and Kight pushed him a number of times.
Police tracked the pair down to a nearby tavern due to the number plates which the Pizza Hut manager had been able to provide to police.
Defence lawyer Josie Salzman said Kight had a drug problem and had moved to Maryborough in an effort to clean up.
“My client is extremely embarrassed and he hasn't’ even told his father it has not happened,” she said.
The court was told Kight also suffered from mental health issues.