Threat to kill over chips and a slushie

A FORMER truck driver repeatedly punched and threatened to kill a service station worker who tried to stop him stealing a slushie and a packet of chips.

Anthony John Lappan also threatened to smash the worker’s head in and “f--k your mother” in Arabic on April 3 last year.

The robbery came less than a month after the 39-year-old threatened to kill a Southport Dan Murphy’s security guard who tried to stop him leaving with a bottle of tequila stuffed down his pants.

Lappan pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Tuesday to two counts of robbery.

Judge Deborah Holliday sentenced him to two years’ prison with parole release on November 18.

The court was told that when the security guard asked Lappan to return the tequila, Lappan responded, “Get out of the way or I will kill you”.

Lappan continued to wave his arms around and act aggressively, so the security guard stepped aside.

About two weeks later a service station attendant saw Lappan filling up a drink at the slushie station and asked him to leave.

He threatened to kill the worker and began to abuse him in Arabic. The victim spoke broken Arabic and recognised the phrase “I will f--k your mum” and “I will smash your head in”. As he started to leave, Lappan grabbed Red Rock Deli chips from the shelf.

The service station worker again tried to stop him. Lappan elbowed him in the nose and punched him in the face.

Defence barrister Michael Purcell, instructed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Legal Service, said Lappan had become dependent on drugs after suffering a back injury while working as a truck driver. He had learning difficulties at school leading to difficulties reading and writing.