Machete-wielding man threatens Nanango man in terrifying armed robbery

The Kingaroy District Court was told the 28yo threatened one man with a machete before stealing his car, and struck another with a shovel.

A South Burnett man has been jailed after a terrifying crime spree where one man was threatened with a machete and another struck to the ground with a shovel.

Shannon Washington pleaded guilty in the Kingaroy District Court to three charges in total, including the armed robbery, an assault occasioning bodily harm while armed, and wilful damage.

Crown prosecutor Christa Nicola said the first attack occurred at 6.30am while the victim was sleeping on a bus in Nanango.

The court was told 28-year-old Washington entered the bus armed with a 30cm long machete.

He demanded the other man hand over his keys, before Washington and an alleged co-offender made off with the car.

The following day a Mount Binga resident went to investigate after hearing noises coming from a shed on his property.

Ms Nicola told the court the resident saw Washington walking toward him carrying a shovel.

“He knocked him to the ground and the complainant had pain to his arm,” she said.

“The defendant then threw a rock at the complainant’s windscreen causing damage, which makes up the wilful damage charge.”

Ms Nicola said Washington has a significant criminal record spanning more than seven pages.

“He’s predominantly been before the court for public nuisance, property, drug, violent, and breaching offences,” she said.

“He has been before the court for three enter premises offences, one of which related to him ram raiding a liquor store with a car and damaging that car.

“That caused in excess of $40,000 in damage.”

The defendant was represented by Catherine Cuthbert, who said her client’s behaviour stemmed from a methamphetamine addiction.

“In October of last year, he was using up to one gram of methamphetamine a day. By any measure that is a lot,” Ms Cuthbert said.

Washington has been in custody since October 6 for unrelated offences.

Judge Cash this week sentenced Washington to two and a half years’ jail, with his parole date set for June 25 this year.