Blake John Swenser sentenced for Little Mountain armed robbery

A shotgun was brandished by a young Caboolture South man during a brutal armed robbery and carjacking on the Sunshine Coast over a spiralling drug debt.

A Caboolture South man aimed a shotgun at his victim and stole his Subaru after he was bashed over a drug debt in Little Mountain.

Blake John Swenser, 29, had “ambushed and jumped” his victim with two co-offenders, a man and a woman, on August 15 2020 to reclaim a drug debt.

Maroochydore District Court heard that the three offenders cornered the victim and his mate on a Little Mountain street with the ringleader yelling out “Oi you motherf---ers”.

The ringleader of the group bashed the victim as he stole his Nike shoes, iphone and wallet while Swenser pointed a shotgun.

Swenser and the woman stole the victim’s Subaru while the ringleader left the scene.

The court heard the victim suffered serious injuries from the assault.

Crown prosecutor Alex Stark said Hungry Jacks wrappers left at the scene traced the brutal crime back to the trio who were arrested and charged.

Mr Stark said Swenser’s co-offenders had been sentenced for their roles in the armed robbery.

Swenser was due to stand trial on Wednesday but pleaded guilty in Maroochydore District Court to all charges before a jury was empaneled.

Blake John Swenser was sentenced to three years’ jail.

Defence barrister Simon Lewis told the court Swenser had been “spun a different yarn” by the ringleader who said he was the one originally robbed and they were retrieving the money.

Mr Lewis told the court Swenser had a longstanding substance abuse issue and was “reluctantly” involved in the violent armed robbery.

The court heard Swenser had spent 567 days in custody since his arrest as he was already on parole.

Judge Catherine Kefford accepted Swenser had a lesser role in the brutal attack as the ring leader had inflicted the violence and instigated the robbery.

Swenser pleaded guilty to robbery armed in the company of others, unlawful entry of a vehicle with the intent to commit actual violence while armed and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He was sentenced to three years’ jail but was given a parole eligibility date of Wednesday April 6, 2022.

Convictions were recorded.