Jail for blood-filled syringe hold-up of adult shop

A MAN who held up an adult shop with a blood-filled syringe has been jailed.

A Coast pensioner has been refused bail after being charged with drug trafficking. Picture: Rockhampton Morning Bulletin

A MAN who held up an adult shop with a blood-filled syringe has been jailed.

The Bundaberg District Court was told Christopher Peter Mark Bowmaker, 31, entered the Totally Adult shop in Princess St on September 15 last year and asked for money.

When he was refused he left, but about 8.20pm he returned, armed with a knife and the blood-filled syringe.

He was accompanied by another man who was carrying a spanner.

Bowmaker demanded money from the shop assistant, and was given $450.

Both men had fabric covering their faces, and as he left Bowmaker held up the knife and told the shop assistant not to call the police.

The shop assistant recognised his voice from his earlier visit to the shop.

Police were called and found Bowmaker shortly afterwards.

He made admissions and handed over $450.

The court was told the shop assistant had suffered from nightmares and anxiety since the incident.

Bowmaker pleaded guilty to armed robbery in company.

He was sentenced to three years jail, with a parole date of September 16.

Judge Michael Rackemann was told Bowmaker had criminal convictions in New South Wales and Queensland.

He had a number of convictions for property and drug matters.

He was found guilty of robbery with violence when he was just 15.

In 2008 he was found guilty of a negligent act involving a child, which involved his child drinking alcohol.

In 2012 in Rockhampton he was found guilty of going armed to cause fear after he held a machete to another man's throat and threatened to cut his jugular.

The court was told Bowmaker had had a troubled childhood and was subject to abuse, which contributed his fragile emotional state.