Tyson Hughes given suspended sentence for service station holdup and attempted robbery

A young Pooraka man lured into an eastern suburbs cult has learned his fate for crimes including a “polite” servo holdup.

A polite thief who was unsuspectingly lured into an Eastern suburbs satanic cult as a teen held up a servo with his hand in the shape of a gun in his pocket, a court has heard.

Tyson Hughes, 20, of Pooraka appeared in the District Court to be sentenced for multiple offences including a servo holdup and an attempted robbery at another fuel outlet.

In sentencing, Judge Michael Durrant said Hughes had donned a black hoodie and face mask and pretended he had a 10mm gun in his pocket in a hold up at On The Run Para Hills on September 14, 2022.

He said Hughes had handed a bag to the cashier and told him “he had 10 seconds to give you the cash that was in the till”.

“The cashier put notes into the bag, you told him to ‘have a good night’ and exited,” Judge Durrant said.

He said Hughes initially denied involvement, but then told police he had “politely asked for money” and the cashier handed over $100.

“You admitted holding your hand in the shape of a gun in your pocket,” Judge Durrant said.

Hughes had also attempted to hold up a St Peters service station on October 30, 2021, but a “quick thinking” attendant thwarted his plan.

“You said you had a gun in your bag and intended to rob her of $500,” Judge Durrant said.

“She asked if you could go somewhere else and pointed out another service station up the road.”

In February 2022, police Hughes was found with bank cards belonging to someone else. Hughes had told police they were taken from an unlocked parked car.

“Your offending had has had a lasting impact on your victims and the law must protect vulnerable persons like those who work late at night as cashiers in service stations,” Judge Durrant said.

An OTR service station. Picture: Kelly Barnes

He said Hughes had endured a troubled upbringing “deserving of considerable sympathy” before he was able to leave home. During his search for somewhere else to live a former co-worker of his mother offered him a room in Magill.

“Unbeknownst to you, she was part of a satanic cult and the property at Magill belonged to a member of that cult,” Judge Durrant said.

He said Hughes was introduced to hallucinogenic drugs while at the property, before moving out and eventually having to couch surf.

Judge Durrant said since Hughes was remanded in custody last September it had been “the most stable accommodation” he had since he was 14. He said Hughes had overcome a drug addiction and was part of a prison greyhound adoption program.

He pleaded guilty to offences including attempted robbery, commit theft using force, interfering with a motor vehicle without consent and dishonestly taking property without consent.

After discounts for his pleas, and accounting for time already served Judge Durrant set a head sentence of three years, five months and 19 days. He suspended the term on condition of a supervised three-year good behaviour bond.