Drug addicts jailed for armed robbery

Press, 18 December 1985, Page 4

Drug addicts jailed for armed robbery

Two drug addicts who carried out an armed reprisal raid on a house in Coronation Street, Spreydon, because they had been “ripped off’ on a drug deal were each jailed for 2% years by Mr Justice Cook in the High Court yesterday.

Michael Edward Norman, aged 23, and John Terence Mason, aged 22, had been found guilty by a jury on charges of robbing Cameron Gordon Macllquham of 5220 while armed with a rifle and injuring Brian Gregory O’Donnell. Mason was also convicted on a charge of unlawfully detaining Mr Macllquham.

The offences were committed on July 20. Mason was given an additional nine-month prison term on charges of burglary of Willie Weavers shop in New Brighton on November 22 and driving while disqualified. For Norman, Miss E. H. B. Thompson said that it was Mason who took the $220 rent money without any consultation with Norman whom she submitted was only technically guilty of the offence. Because he had been “ripped off’ in a drug deal by the occupants of the house, Norman had had a score to settle. O’Donnell

had suffered no lasting harm and was now living with Norman’s sister in Brisbane. Drugs had been a factor in most of Norman’s offending and he realised he was in need of treatment for his addiction. Odyssey House was willing to accept him, Miss Thompson said. Mr K. J. Grave, for Mason, said that the rifle used had no magazine and there was no ammunition for it. Mason had been in regular employment as a freezing worker but was now a sickness beneficiary. He was in a stable de facto relationship and had two young children.

For the Crown, Mr D. J. L. Saunders said that a firearm was taken to the property to extort drugs but there were none there so they took money instead.

Mr Justice Cook said that in the early hours Norman and Mason burst into a house in Coronation Street where three persons were living. One of the occupants was hit about the head and $220 rent money was stolen and then Norman went off with O’Donnell to obtain cannabis.

Both men had been given a variety of sentences for offences of dishonesty but had not been deterred. They

both had a history of drug abuse. Norman had more convictions than Mason. “You used violence, and this type of offending is far too prevalent,” his Honour said. “The community must be protected from persons like you.” While on bail, Mason • drove a station waggon through the front window of a shop in New Brighton and he and an associate removed clothing valued about $6OOO. When the police arrived on the scene they ■ ran off but were apprehended nearby. It was a stupid burglary with little chance of sue- ' cess, his Honour said.