A St Albans man has been sentenced to almost four years’ jail for a “terrifying” knife hold-up outside a Caroline Springs shopping centre earlier this year.
Ashley Maroney pleaded guilty to one charge of armed robbery and one charge of possessing a drug of dependence.
The County Court heard last month the victim had withdrawn $70 from an ATM at CS Square in Caroline Springs on April 28, and was walking back to his vehicle when Maroney, dressed in a hooded jumper, approached from behind.
He produced a 24-centimetre kitchen knife, demanding cash. “Give me what you have. Do you have money?” he said.
Maroney took $90 and the victim’s iPhone. The victim received two small cuts to his finger while attempting to push Maroney’s knife away.
Maroney then ran to a waiting car, which had three other men inside, and drove away.
A witness took down the number plate of the car, which led police to a house where the three men said Maroney was responsible for the crime. He was later arrested at his St Albans’ home. Police also found a small bag of cannabis in his jacket.
Justice Paul Grant slammed Maroney’s “serious offending”, saying he met up with the three other men, all heroin users, beforehand.
“The other men said they needed money to buy drugs and you told them you had committed an armed robbery in the past,” he said.
“You were, to use your expression, ‘sucked into doing it’.
“You were driven to the area and, to use your words, ‘waited for the right person to rob’. You chose a soft target … it must have been a terrifying experience for the victim.”
Maroney was sentenced to three years and nine months jail, and will be eligible for parole in two years and two months.
