Samuel Glenn Atkinson and Hayden John Mell sentenced for ‘unusual’ armed robbery

Two Ipswich men were sentenced yesterday after an “unusual” car theft, in which they had been told the car belonged to their associate.

Two Ipswich men involved in the armed robbery of a car they said they believed belonged to their associate were sentenced yesterday in Ipswich District Court.

Samuel Glenn Atkinson, 34, and Hayden John Mell, 20, both pleaded guilty on July 28, 2022, to one count of armed robbery in company.

The court heard that an acquaintance of theirs had an arrangement with the victim, where she borrowed his car from time to time.

According to the two men, however, the acquaintance told them that the car belonged to her.

On May 21, 2021, Atkinson and Mell both participated in the armed car theft of the man at Riverview.

The court heard Mell used a replica firearm throughout the encounter, and used it to threaten the man.

Hayden Mell, who was sentenced for armed robbery in company in Ipswich Court. Picture: Facebook

During the incident, Mell and Atkinson also smashed the man’s phone and stole his bank card and $10 in cash.

Both were arrested in the following days and have been in custody since.

Due to their misunderstanding of who owned the car, they were not charged with stealing the car itself – simply for stealing the bank card and cash.

“Cases involving replica firearms are particularly serious examples of robbery offences – but it is unusual in terms of the nature of the offending,” said Crown Prosecutor Hamish McIntyre.

Judge Dennis Lynch noted that although the replica firearm didn‘t pose an actual threat to the victim, the victim wouldn’t have known that.

“No doubt, threatening someone in that way and taking their property is a frightening experience,“ he said.

Mr McIntyre said both Atkinson and Mell had offended previously, but that this incident was a “very serious escalation in their criminal history”.

Notably Mell committed this offence while on probation – in which Mr McIntyre noted he had “performed very poorly”.

Defence lawyer Cecelia Bernardin said Atkinson had struggled with drug addiction, but had a good work history as a concreter and wished to resume the care of his two children when released.

Sam Atkinson, who was sentenced for armed robbery in company in Ipswich Court. Picture: Facebook

Defence lawyer Dan Boddice said Mell had become addicted to methamphetamine at a young age and had struggled with his mental health, but that he had good prospects of employment and had gained clarity while sober in custody.

Atkinson was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment, with immediate parole release and 424 days of presentence custody declared time-served.

Mell was sentenced to two years imprisonment, with immediate parole release and 426 days of presentence custody declared time-served.