Luke Alexander Trout jailed for Christies Beach service station robbery

A 79-year-old service station employee thought he would be shot when a “brazen” robber revealed what looked to be a gun in the waistband of his pants.

An elderly cashier was left terrified after a man revealed what looked to be a gun in his waistband before stealing cash from the till.

Luke Alexander Trout, 28, was fuelled by a cocktail of drugs when he committed the “brazen” service station robbery on the vulnerable worker.

During sentencing, the District Court heard Trout attended a Christies Beach On the Run service station on July 29 last year.

Trout approached the cashier and told him to give him money.

“You lifted your jumper and showed him the handle of what appeared to the cashier to be a gun tucked into the waist of your pants,” Judge Joanne Tracey said.

Luke Trout was jailed for robbing a Christies Beach service station. Photo: SAPOL

Luke Trout was caught on CCTV robbing the Gulfview Road service station. Photo: SAPOL

The cashier opened the till and placed the cash drawer on the counter.

Trout took between $200-250 from the till.

“The cashier describes having been fearful that he would be shot if he did not co-operate with you, and talks of his distress at your indifference to the effects of your behaviour,” Judge Tracey said.

Trout pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery.

The court heard Trout, who had previously worked as a labourer, had been a chronic methamphetamine user since his late teens.

“You say you have a limited recollection of your offending last year, in that you were grossly affected by a cocktail of illicit drugs, including methamphetamine, cannabis and non-prescribed Lyrica.

The court heard Trout regretted his behaviour and was motivated to participate in drug rehabilitation programs.

Judge Tracey said the offending was brazen and employees just doing their jobs needed to be protected.

“While the weapon in your possession was not actually a gun, it is easy to understand from the photographs why the console operator thought that it was,” she said.

The weapon used in Luke Trout's service station robbery. Photo: Courts SA

“The victim was particularly vulnerable, at the age of 79, and made to feel afraid.”

Judge Tracey sentenced Trout to three years and 10 months jail, with a non-parole period of 25 months.

The sentence was backdated to August 13, 2022.