Tyson Mark Dicker in Bundaberg District Court over armed robbery

A man who helped carry out a violent armed robbery, where a boy was told he’d have his head blown off with a shotgun, has broken down during his court appearance from prison. Here’s how his sentence unfolded.

Tyson Mark Dicker, a man with an eclectic criminal record, had been doing time before he was released from prison on October 16, 2020.

It’s the same day he turned up at a Bundaberg man’s home with the same two men who drove from Landsborough to Maryborough to pick him up from jail.

Bundaberg District Court heard on Wednesday how a violent armed robbery, planned for a week from prison, spilled over into reality and landed Dicker straight back where he came from.

It heard that Dicker, now 33, had befriended a cellmate while in jail, and that cellmate alleged a man in Bundaberg had taken tools from him.

It was that knowledge that prompted a week of planning on how to get those items, with Dicker agreeing to go to the man’s house once he was released.

When Dicker and his two co-accused arrived at the victims’ home, it was only the man’s children, aged 13 and 15, at the property.

The court heard that the men posed as repossession agents and even printed a letter to show the boys.

While the 15-year-old was reading it, the men burst into the house, brandishing a knife and telling them they wouldn’t get hurt if they complied.

The men also claimed to have a shotgun in their vehicle and told one boy that he would have his head blown off if he didn’t co-operate.

As the 15-year-old was having a knife pressed to his belly, the 13-year-old escaped to a neighbour’s home, but the men then instructed the older boy to retrieve the younger one, telling the neighbours that they were simply there to repossess items.

Appearing before Judge Leanne Clare by videolink, Dicker started to sob and said he was remorseful for his role in the crime, which he claimed had escalated.

“That was a stupid mistake and I regret doing it,” he said.

“Having children of my own, I should never have done it.

“I’m appalled at what actually happened.”

The court heard that in the process of what was termed a “violent, premeditated favour for a criminal associate”, the men took a number of tools from the victims’ home before loading them into their car.

Dicker’s barrister, Neville Weston, said it would be “both ridiculous and counterproductive” to not accept the seriousness of what had happened, but claimed Dicker had come under the influence of his cellmate and had applied himself during by working during his 428 days in pre-sentence custody.

However, Ms Clare said Dicker’s role in the crime was still significant.

“There were three of you, three grown men and the three of you acted like thugs,” she said.

“The threat of death that was made, was graphic.”

Ms Clare reiterated the importance of ensuring children were safe, and safe in their own home.

Dicker pleaded guilty to one charge of burglary by break in company and two charges of armed robbery while in company.

For the charge of burglary by break in company, he was sentenced to four years’ jail.

For the two charges of armed robbery while in company, he was sentenced to four years and eight months.

Dicker will be eligible for parole on June 2, 2022.