Clinton John Gowley in court for armed robbery

A welder who robbed and assaulted a man with a hunting knife while his little sister was in the house was ‘completely out of control’ after downing two litres of cask wine and beer.

Clinton John Gowley committed a home invasion in Cairns with a hunting knife. FILE PHOTO

A 39-year-old who was “blotto” when he threatened a man with a hunting knife for $100, so terrified the victim’s sister that she hid in a cupboard.

Clinton John Gowley faced the Hervey Bay District Court on Monday after spending 258 days in custody for crimes he had committed in 2018.

The court was told he had only recently been able to deal with charges of burglary, armed robbery with personal violence and threatening violence due to being incarcerated in the Northern Territory.

Gowley, now 45, pleaded guilty to all offences on Monday.

Crown Prosecutor Michael Gawrych told the court Gowley committed a home invasion in Cairns with a hunting knife on March 24, 2018.

He had downed 2l of cask wine and beer before heading to the house of a man he knew, the court heard.

Judge Ian Dearden detailed the events, saying Gowley entered the man’s bedroom with the hunting knife, saying “I’m here to cut your throat” and demanded he pay him $100.

Gowley hit the victim on the side of the head three times, while continuing to say “I need money” and “you owe me $100”.

He then stole the man’s tobacco pouch, hit him with the butt of the knife and left.

The court was told Gowley then returned hours later after driving intoxicated only to threaten the victim again with his knife.

The ordeal left the victim’s sister, an 11-year-old, so scared she hid in a cupboard to make the call to police.

Mr Dearden said Gowley, who is a welder by profession, was “completely out of control”.

He was granted bail for the offences and travelled to the Northern Territory, where he got himself into “significantly more strife”.

He served 21 months for aggravated robbery and assault, before heading back to Queensland and handing himself in to police for his Cairns’ offences.

Defence barrister Jack Kennedy described Gowley’s condition on the date of his offending as “blotto” and said his client would return to the NT upon his release to be with his son and grandchild.

He was sentenced to four years for burglary, five years for the armed robbery, and 18 months for threatening violence.

The jail terms to be served concurrently will be wholly suspended after 18 months for five years.

Originally published as Clinton John Gowley in court for armed robbery