PAGET SHOOTING: Iced-up gunman’s violent robbery

Jayden Nicholas Finney pulled a sawn-off shot gun on a former jail mate.

SOCIAL MEDIA IMAGE DISCUSS USE WITH YOUR EDITOR - Jayden Nicholas Finney pleaded guilty to armed robbery with violence after shooting a man at Paget in September 2017.

AN ICED-up gunman shot a former jail mate during a violent daylight robbery over a car he took on a dangerous joy ride from Paget to West Mackay.

After an 11th hour guilty plea, Jayden Nicholas Finney was jailed for 5.5 years, but can apply for his freedom in eight months.

The then-teen father pulled a sawn-off shotgun on Jeremy May, who he had been in jail with and who was also his mother's friend, while the pair were using drugs at a secluded spot on Connors Rd on September 17, 2018.

Generic image of barrels of a sawn-off shotgun pointing at camera.

Finney told Mr May he wanted the car, which had been filled with the victim's possessions as he was about to leave Mackay.

"There was a struggle for the gun and … the gun discharged," Judge Deborah Richards said.

The bullet passed through Mr May's thigh causing minimal physical damage "although that's through more good luck than good management on your behalf", Judge Richards said.

Finney then dealt a brutal blow to Mr May's head with the weapon and forced him from the car.

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Mackay District Court heard the victim escaped across the cane field to a nearby metal yard and the police were called.

"You then took the car and there was a significant period of dangerous (driving) through the main streets of Mackay about 9.40am," Judge Richards said.

 

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT

THE young father embarked on a perilous getaway in an attempt to dodge multiple police crews hunting for the Paget shooter.

Finney initially took the stolen car from Paget to 273 Shakespeare St, where Mr May was living at the time and where cops spotted the vehicle.

He then drove to the intersection with Milton St, speeding through a red light on the busy road before driving towards and onto Nebo Rd, weaving in and out of traffic.

Police on the hunt for the suspect in a shooting at Paget in September 2018.

Crown Prosecutor Nathan Crane said Finney, who was unlicensed, had taken a short detour to avoid police, also causing a near collision at the corner of Field St and Bridge Rd.

"Before he travelled across Nebo Rd running red lights," Mr Crane said.

The court heard at one point at least two police cars followed him down Bridge Rd.

Dashcam footage showed the stolen vehicle travel the wrong way around a roundabout and then "feigning" like it was going to hit an ongoing police vehicle, before he crossed back into the right lane.

Finney left the car, with the motor still running at the White Lace Motel on Nebo Rd.

Police on the hunt for the suspect in a shooting at Paget in September 2018.

The court heard the shot gun and Finney's backpack were found at two different homes on O'Keefe St.

He was arrested on September 25 that year and has been in custody ever since.

The case had been listed for trial before Finney pleaded guilty on Monday, the day it was set to go ahead, after new evidence came to light that strengthened the case against him.

The charges include robbery with violence, dangerous driving and other offences.

 

ABOUT JAYDEN FINNEY

WHEN the shooting occurred, Finney was barely a month and a half out of jail and had spiralled back into drug use while living with his mother, who the court heard was an ice addict.

The court heard he was also on parole for other offences including attempted street robberies committed then he was 18.

He spent most of the past three years behind bars bar a two-month stint, when he committed other offences.

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Defence barrister Scott McLennan, acting for Fisher Dore Lawyers, said his client had a "highly dysfunctional" upbringing with both parents addicted to methylamphetamines.

"Throughout his teens he was essentially passed from household to household," Mr McLennan said.

The court heard Finney began using drugs at a young age turning to methylamphetamines in his teens.

He has a two-year-old son, who he is in regular contact with, has abstained from drugs while in jail and had been moved to residential quarters.

"My client has been in custody almost continually since he was about 18 years old, which is a very long time for such a very young man (and) in my submission youth is still a very important factor," Mr McLennan said, pushing for a four-and-a-half year jail term.

 

THE PENALTY

JUDGE Richards said this crime spree warranted up to seven years jail.

"Bringing a loaded gun to an armed robbery is extremely serious," she said.

"The fact that you were armed with a loaded weapon makes it much more serious than the robberies that (usually) come before the court.

"The fact that you then left the in the car of the (victim) while he ran to get help shows a callous disregard for his safety."

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However, because any jail term must be added to the one he was currently serving she reduced the penalty to five-and-a-half years.

Finney was also disqualified from driving for two years and will be able to apply for parole on March 4 next year.

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