Godfrey Allan James Bell: ‘Talented’ rugby league player jailed after Goodna robbery

A rugby league player who had “stellar prospects” to play in the NRL has been jailed after bashing a man for his pokie winnings.

A once promising rugby league player who caught the eye of the North Queensland Cowboys has been jailed after stealing pokies winnings. Picture: Wesley Monts

A once talented rugby league player has been jailed after bashing and robbing a man of his pokie jackpot winnings.

Godfrey Allan James Bell, 32, appeared before Ipswich District Court on Monday, November 14 for sentencing after pleading guilty to robbery while in company.

The court heard Bell attended the Cecil Hotel in Goodna with several friends shortly before 2am on August 13, 2020.

An hour later, a man who had won about $1000 on the pub’s pokie machines was leaving when Bell followed him outside and asked him for a $50 note.

“Get away mate, I’ve already given you some,” the man said.

He walked off but was cornered and punched multiple times by Bell and an unnamed co-offender who took his wallet and ran off.

Bell was arrested on January 6 last year after police linked CCTV footage from the pub to his signature on a COVID-19 sign-in form.

The court was told Bell was a “very talented footballer” in his youth and once had “stellar” prospects for playing in the NRL after receiving a scholarship with the North Queensland Cowboys.

He, however, did not finish the scholarship and left Townsville because he felt “homesick”.

“I suspect you left for what seems to me like a common situation for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men,” Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren SC said.

“You were brought up to Townsville without any support.”

An impact statement provided to the court by Bell’s victim detailed the “extensive” work needed to repair his teeth and the emotional “scarring” felt to this day.

The court heard Bell had a history of robbery offences in 2011 and 2019 and had been released on parole one month before the incident occurred.

His lawyer told the court the offending was “clearly linked” to Bell’s alcoholism and he had made great progress addressing his problem while in custody.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Horneman-Wren said the “opportunistic” offending was motivated by the knowledge of the victim’s winnings.

“Lots of people are at pubs and clubs and see someone winning on the pokies,” he said.

“I’ve got to send a message to the community that if they rob people it will be dealt with sternly.”

Bell was sentenced to two years imprisonment.