Steven Cook was jailed in Adelaide District Court after confessing to service station robbery four years later

A man who robbed a service station employee with a heart condition at knifepoint confessed to the cold case four years later to clear his conscience.

A father who robbed a service station employee at knifepoint to get money for drugs confessed to his crime four years later.

Steven Augustus Cook, 40, was jailed in the Adelaide District Court on Thursday after he decided to take responsibility for his past bad choices.

Cook entered the Queenstown Coles Express service station on July 3, 2016.

“You had spoken to the consult operator previously, you knew he had a heart condition,” Judge Michael Burnett said during sentencing.

“You went to the counter and demanded money from the consult operator.”

Cook then produced a kitchen knife and was handed $250 from the till.

“There were other customers at the service station at the time,” Judge Burnett said.

The court heard police were unable to identify Cook and by 2020 the case was effectively closed.

Cook then contacted police in June 2020 and told them he wanted to confess to a crime.

“You told police that you were a heavy drug user at the time of the offending and needed some money to purchase drugs for you and your friends,” Judge Burnett said.

The court heard Cook was intoxicated during the “spur of the moment” robbery.

Steven Cook was jailed in the Adelaide District Court on Thursday. Picture: Facebook

Cook, of West Lakes, had previously pleaded guilty to robbery.

The court heard Cook, who is a father-of-one, has alcohol and drug problems.

“You also suffer from a pathological gambling problem,” Judge Burnett said.

“I accept that alcohol played a large part in your offending, I also accept that you are motivated to stop offending.”

The court heard Cook had written a letter of apology to the victim.

“Your remorse and acceptance of responsibility are demonstrated by your confession,” Judge Burnett said.

Judge Burnett sentenced Cook to three years and eleven months, with a non-parole period of 19-months.

“Persons are entitled to feel safe in their workplace and undertake their employment without fear,” he said.

The sentence was backdated to September 8.