Jail for armed robbery Man told police screwdriver was not intended as a weapon

AN offender involved in an armed robbery said the screwdriver used to threaten a woman was only meant for breaking into a cigarette cabinet.

Jack Leonard Baker, 25, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to entering premises and committing an indictable offence, possessing a utensil and two counts of breaching bail.

The court heard two offenders entered the BP in Cardwell at 2am on October 16, 2019 and jumped the front counter before threatening a female console operator with a screwdriver.

One offender told the woman to “stay away or be killed” before they stole a black cash register containing $2500, 15 packets of cigarettes and five packets of mints.

Both offenders had their faces covered but had identifiable items of clothing and distinguishing body features.

The court was told that on October 18 detectives searched Baker’s house in Euramo after a tip-off that he had a matching arm tattoo to one of the offenders.

The detectives found three empty cigarette packets and five packets of mints with handwritten labels from the Cardwell BP.

During a police interview Baker admitted to being the offender in the CCTV footage.

He said he had been drinking with the other offender and needed cash so they decided to go to the BP.

Baker told police he had the screwdriver but said it was for the purpose of opening a cigarette cabinet. He added it was never intended to be used as a weapon and he denied threatening the victim.

Baker told police they disposed of their clothing and the screwdriver in the Murray

River. The court was told his co-offender, 38, had received a 15-month jail sentence for his offending.

Magistrate Bevan Manthey described Baker as a “persistent” offender and noted his previous probation sentences.

Baker was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment. He will be eligible for parole on August 2.