Floyd Siow sentenced to four years in prison for bungled armed robbery
An armed robber who dropped a knife over the counter of a service station during an atrociously planned robbery has been sentenced to four years in prison.
Police & Courts
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A clumsy bandit who attempted to rob a service station only to drop his knife has been jailed for four years.
However, a District Court judge said he was cautiously optimistic about the young man’s prospects of rehabilitation and imposed a “merciful” non-parole period.
Floyd Siow, 25, was on a good-behaviour bond as part of a 22-month suspended sentence for drug trafficking at the time of the attempted robbery in March.
Judge Adam Kimber heard during sentencing submissions that Siow’s former drug dealer informed him there was a debt of $5000 still outstanding.
The coronavirus pandemic left Siow unemployed with a $2000 debt remaining and, in an attempt to clear it in one go, he staged the armed robbery.
Siow took a knife from his Collinswood house, donned a hooded jumper, surgical mask and gloves and walked to a nearby service station.
As he approached the counter demanding “all the money”, he produced the knife in a flourish, only to drop it over the counter.
The attendant rushed to a safe room and Siow fled, dropping his gloves, which police used to link him to the crime.
He pleaded guilty to aggravated attempting to commit theft using force.
Judge Kimber said that Siow had performed well while on home detention awaiting sentence and his new employer spoke highly of him.
“Despite your offending history, you are a young man with potential,” he said.
Siow will serve a non-parole period of 22 months.