Kay Lorraine Menzies guilty of being accessory to armed robbery

The 50-year-old was supported by a packed gallery in the Gympie court as she pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including being an accessory after the fact to the robbery of two women, and supplying dangerous drugs.

A 50-year-old Gympie woman narrowly avoided being jailed on Monday for her role in the “terrifying” armed hold-up of two women in 2020.

Kay Lorraine Menzies was supported by a packed gallery of friends and family as she pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including being an accessory after the fact to the robbery, six charges of supplying dangerous drugs, and two summary drugs charges.

Gympie District Court heard on the night of April 26, 2020, Menzies dropped the main offender, Luke Watts, at a site where he said he was to pick up a car.

Watts had been carrying a sawn-off shotgun inside a red duffel bag.

He then met two women, aged 27 and 35, who had travelled down from Bundaberg to Gympie, the court heard.

They had been told by a friend that Watts would help them find somewhere to stay.

The court heard he had them drive to several different locations and then, once they had pulled over in a secluded area, he pulled out the gun and aimed it at them.

Kay Lorraine Menzies (maroon jumper) leaves Gympie District Court on Monday surrounded by family and friends.

The women fled, leaving behind the car and multiple items including two bags, a $100 note and their identification.

Menzies picked Watts up later that night and then helped him conceal the stolen bags in black plastic and hide them under a trapdoor in the floor of their house, the court was told.

The bags were found during a police search of the property.

Menzies pleaded guilty to charges including being an accessory after the fact to armed robbery, and multiple counts of supplying dangerous drugs.

It was this search that also turned up Menzies’ drug deals in March and April 2020, through messages on her mobile phone.

She had made six drug deals in March and April of that year, selling OxyContin, Subutex, and – on four occasions – methylamphetamine.

Defence barrister Simone Bain told the court Menzies had a history of dysfunctional family and personal relationships.

She said she was working to turn her life around, including moving to Townsville.

Judge Nathan Jarro sentenced Menzies to two years jail and released her on parole immediately.

He also gave her a stern warning, saying the nature of the charges meant she was “in some serious trouble”, noting the robbery must have been “a terrifying experience for the two girls” and there would be no second chances should she reoffend.

Watts was jailed in November 2020 after pleading guilty to guilty to 28 offences, including armed robbery, serious assault of police and going armed to cause fear.