Warren Tighe: Silkstone man sentenced after armed robbery of BP, prison riot

An Ipswich BP employee quit his job, moved house, and sought mental health treatment after being robbed at knifepoint twice in three weeks, a court has heard.

Armed with a large kitchen knife, an Ipswich man robbed the same service station – attended by the same employee – two times in three weeks, a court has heard.

Silkstone man Warren Tighe, 31, appeared in Ipswich District Court on Tuesday, charged with break and enter, two counts of robbery while armed, and common assault.

He pleaded guilty to all offences.

Crown prosecutor Amy Stannard told the court Tighe’s string of crimes began on the afternoon of October 11 last year, when he burst into a Silkstone BP armed with a knife and demanded money from the shop attendant.

Tighe stole the man’s wallet and $950 from the cash register, telling him: “I know where you live”.

Three weeks later, about 6.30pm on November 1, Tighe returned to the BP where the same shop attendant was working.

The man recognised Tighe’s voice as he demanded money once again. Tighe pocketed $850 from the till.

Ms Stannard said the offender, a father of three, kicked the man in the stomach after he confessed he did not know how to open the BP’s safe.

Later that day, Tighe was remanded in custody.

Ms Stannard said last year’s events had a profound effect on the shop attendant, who eventually quit his job and moved house out of fear.

The court heard Tighe’s offending continued even after he was placed at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre, where he and other inmates trapped a supervisor in a room in August this year.

The group of men smashed windows, showering the officer with glass and causing about $1080 in damage.

The entire unit entered into a lockdown.

Tighe’s barrister Stephen Kissick said his client had never had paid employment and considered himself “institutionalised” after spending years going in and out of jail.

The court heard the mother of his children was also incarcerated.

Judge Horneman-Wren SC said Tighe appeared as though he had little to no recollection of what transpired late last year as he listened to the prosecutor speak.

He acknowledged Tighe’s early pleas of guilty, his drug addiction problems, the 401 days he had already served in prison, and his disadvantaged upbringing, ultimately sentencing him to six and a half years’ imprisonment with parole eligibility after 12 months.