Man on bender in knife attack

A KIRWAN man on a drug and alcohol bender attempted to rob Townsville Tenpin & Fun Centre at night by threatening a cleaner with a knife.

A court was told the cleaner feared for the lives of his partner and eight- year- old son and could not return to work for weeks afterwards.

Tristan John Tass, 25, pleaded guilty in Townsville District Court yesterday to attempted robbery, assault while armed and a separate armed assault against his ex’s partner.

Crown prosecutor Shannon Sutherland told the court that on September 23 last year, after the Kirwan tenpin centre had closed, Tass entered wearing sunglasses, a hoodie and rubber gloves.

“The defendant demanded the complainant give him the money two or three times,” she said. “The complainant grabbed a vacuum cleaner and told them they were just the cleaners and that there was no money.”

The cleaner began pushing Tass out of the business, worried he would hurt someone.

Tass pulled out a knife and struck him in the torso twice before running away.

Ms Sutherland said police found him four days later.

“He admitted to drinking and smoking cannabis and decided he needed money and looked for businesses that were open,” she said.

Ms Sutherland said the attempted robbery had a “significant impact” on the cleaner.

“He feared for his life, his partner’s and their son. He reports suffering nightmares and sleepless nights after this incident and also taking several weeks off his job,” she said.

“His relationship ended for a short period of time and they have now moved to make a fresh start.”

Defence barrister Scott Geeves said Tass had been drinking for days and regretted his “deplorable conduct”.

Eleven months before the incident, in October 2015, Tass was at home when his ex- partner and her boyfriend arrived to collect Tass’s daughter.

Ms Sutherland said Tass hit the man’s elbow with a baseball bat, then threw it in his direction. The man held up a chair to protect himself and Tass threw a knife at him.

Mr Geeves suggested to the court a sentence of four to five years in jail for both assaults.

“His emotions certainly got the better of him on that particular day. The visit from the other persons was somewhat unexpected and there was some conjecture about who should be spending time with the daughter,” he said.

Judge Terry Martin is expected to deliver the sentence tomorrow.