A young bricklayer has been jailed for his “limited” role in a series of armed robberies across the north-west.
In the County Court, Ngalo Fosita, 20, pleaded guilty to three charges of armed robbery, one charge of attempted armed robbery and two charges of theft.
A sentencing hearing on February 2 heard Fosita, a teenager at the time, and three co-accused held up a 7-Eleven store at Campbellfield early on May 30 last year, after stealing a $45,000 Ford Territory SUV from the service lane off Old Geelong Road, Brooklyn.
Wearing hoods, gloves and masks, the four backed the car through entrance doors before stealing $253.20 from the cash register, three trays of cigarette cartons and $130 from a customer.
Later, about 3.30am they stole $200 from a register at Coles Express in Pascoe Vale.
The car they used was found by police in Sunshine, destroyed by fire.
The following night, the group stole an $8000 Nissan Skyline from Sunshine West, going on to rob a Caltex service station at Glenroy where they took $1200 from the till and $20 from a customer.
This car, gutted by fire, was later found at Derrimut.
Judge Peter Kidd said Fosita’s involvement in the burglaries was “limited”, despite him brandishing a knife on each occasion.
“There is no evidence that you were the ringleader or instigator,” he said.
Fosita, a father of two, who had went to school in Craigeburn, was jailed for 18 months and will serve a three-year community corrections order after his release.
