Man dodges new jail time

JANESSA EKERT

Instead Arohaki grabbed the driver by the shirt and demanded all his money, phone and car keys. The driver reversed trying to get Arohaki out the car.

“As he drove backwards you punched him in the side of the head and put him in a headlock,” Judge Tracy Fantin said.

Arohaki took about $200 in change, the driver’s mobile and car keys and fled. This capped off a two-week offending spree that involved many alcohol and other property thefts. He was arrested and has spent 413 days in jail.

The 23-year-old pleaded guilty in the Cairns District Court to robbery with personal violence and eight other offences.

The court was told that Arohaki has previously breached a suspended jail term and parole with further offend- ing. Defence barrister Josh Trevino agreed that three years was an appropriate term.

He said Arohaki had fallen in with the wrong crowd and began abusing drugs and alcohol, which offered a background to his actions.

Mr Trevino said Arohaki did have some insight into his offending and planned to move to Bamaga where he has a work and accommodation offer with family. The area is also under an alcohol management plan.

Judge Fantin described it as “incredibly stupid offending”.

“Your offending is disgraceful behaviour,” she said.

“It’s almost as if you want to go back to prison.”