A man who robbed a Maidstone bottle shop and attempted to rob supermarkets in Braybrook and Footscray in late 2016 has been sentenced to 15 months imprisonment after pleading guilty in the County Court.
Peter Livingstone, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery and two counts of attempted armed robbery that occurred in November and December last year.
Livingstone suffers from schizophrenia, with the court hearing he was “probably non-adherent with (his) antipsychotic regime for at least six months” and had also been smoking ice on or about the time of the offending.
On November 8, 2016, Livingstone entered a Maidstone bottle shop and robbed two attendants, using half a pair of scissors as a knife and demanding money. He stole about $1500 in cash and a bottle of cognac.
On December 19, he attempted to rob an IGA supermarket in Footscray and a Foodworks supermarket in Braybrook, both times threatening staff with the scissor blade, but leaving empty-handed.
The Braybrook attendants chased Livingstone out of the store by throwing a chair at him.
Livingstone was seen on CCTV driving away from the scenes of the crimes in his car. Police arrested him at his mother’s house on December 21, 2016.
Judge Christopher Ryan sentenced Livingstone to 15 months imprisonment, as well as a three-year community corrections order. Livingstone has already served 254 days.
“You committed or attempted to commit three armed robberies on soft targets [and] your victims were going about their lawful business,” the judge said.
