Ronald Harris jailed over Herne Hill aggravated burglary, armed robbery

An armed robber who forced a man and a woman to undress before taking the man on a “frightening” joy ride to withdraw money from an ATM has learned his fate.

Ronald Harris pleaded guilty in October last year.

An armed robber who forced a man and a woman to undress before taking the man on a “frightening” joy ride to withdraw money from an ATM has been jailed.

Ronald Harris, 44, pleaded guilty in October to aggravated burglary, armed robbery, false imprisonment, theft and obtaining property by deception.

He fronted the County Court at Geelong on Wednesday and was jailed for a maximum of five years and three months by Judge Gerard Mullaly.

He must serve at least three years and 10 months before he’s eligible for parole.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Mullaly told the court Harris committed crimes of “terrible harm and gravity”.

On August 19, 2023, Harris barged into a neighbour’s home as a Grovedale man was visiting her.

Harris was armed with a machete, and ordered the man and woman to strip naked and empty their pockets.

He then took the victim in his own car to an National Australia Bank (NAB) ATM in Geelong’s CBD where the man withdrew $1000, before Harris dropped him off on a dirt road west of Geelong.

Harris, who had only been out of prison for three months at the time, used the victim’s bank cards to withdraw another $1700 from an ATM in North Geelong.

Referring to the victim’s impact statement, Judge Mullaly said the man didn’t sleep comfortably anymore,

“My mind has not been the same since the incident … I don’t go out much anymore, I don’t feel safe anymore,” Judge Mullaly quoted the man as writing.

The court heard Harris had a “very long and concerning criminal history” including convictions for dishonesty, drugs, violence, firearms and weapons offences.

He has been in and out of jail in a life of heavy drug use.

In 2018, Harris was sentenced to a maximum of seven years for a “more serious” aggravated burglary involving false imprisonment, Judge Mullaly said.

Unfortunately Harris “did not learn or sufficiently learn” from the sentence, Judge Mullaly said.

The court heard Harris, who suffers from complex-PTSD, had a past history distinct from other offenders.

Judge Mullaly described several traumatic incidents in Harris’ childhood, including his mother’s death in a car crash when he was four years old.

The circumstances of this and other “dreadful” traumas were such that his case warranted “a degree of compassion or mercy”.

He said Harris’ recidivism did not diminish his need for rehabilitation, rather his criminality was attributable to his childhood trauma and use of drugs to cope.

“I consider that your lifelong impaired mental functioning, that is trauma, which precipitated drug use and anti-social behaviours, means I should, and I do, moderate my assessment of your moral culpability for these crimes,” Judge Mullaly said.

Harris started using cannabis at 15, before progressing to heroin, amphetamines and later ice.

However, Judge Mullaly said Harris’ prospects were not without hope, and he had “growing insight” into his offending.

If he hadn’t pleaded guilty, Judge Mullaly said he would have jailed Harris for six years and six months.

Harris had 533 days reckoned as time served.

Originally published as Ronald Harris jailed over Herne Hill aggravated burglary, armed robbery