Jai Dylan Clarke sentenced over armed robbery, car theft with gel blaster

There were tears in a Sunshine Coast courtroom as a 21-year-old man, who terrorised several people with a gel blaster before leading police on a chase, awaited his sentence.

Jai Dylan Clarke, 21, was supported by several people in the public gallery of Maroochydore District Court on May 29, where he awaited his fate for terrorising several people with a gun - revealed to be a gel blaster.

There were tears in a Sunshine Coast courtroom as a 21-year-old man was told he would spend the next nine months behind bars after a dramatic car theft and police chase ended with his arrest at a major hospital.

Jai Dylan Clarke, 21, was supported by several people in the public gallery of Maroochydore District Court on Monday, May 29, where he awaited his fate for terrorising several people with a gun - revealed to be a gel blaster.

The court was told Clarke, who was 20 at the time, approached a man inside a car at Buddina on July 24, 2022 and asked for a cigarette; but later demanded his car when the victim opened the door and stepped out.

Crown prosecutor Joana Dias said Clarke sat in the driver’s seat and put his bag next to him on the passenger’s seat, but the victim attempted to pull him out of the vehicle.

A struggle ensued and Clarke threw punches before pulling a gun, later revealed to be a gel blaster, from his bag and said “give me your car or I will shoot you”, Ms Dias said.

Jai Dylan Clarke (pictured here at 18) faced court with a legion of supporters, one of which sobbed throughout his appearance.

The struggle continued with other onlookers fearing for their safety, including a woman with two children whom Clarke pointed the weapon at before disappearing into an alleyway.

The terrified driver fled into a nearby restaurant to call police, but Clarke seized his opportunity and took off in the stolen car.

Police caught up with him and deployed tyre spikes that deflated two of the wheels. But Clarke did not stop.

Ms Dias said he eventually abandoned the car and fled on foot, where he was arrested inside the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

The court heard Clarke had earlier stolen a car from a Goodna home in May 2022.

Jai Clarke was arrested inside the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH).

Defence barrister Nathan Turner said his client was an ice addict and was under the influence of the drug at the time of the offences.

He said Clarke had recently found himself homeless after being uprooted from his accommodation.

His client wanted the car to sleep in and to use as transport, Mr Turner told the court. The robbery was not planned.

He said Clarke had gone from living in stable accomodation to being turfed out and rendered homeless.

Mr Turner said his client had no memory of what he had done, but was remorseful to the woman with children he pointed the weapon at during the ordeal.

He spent around 10 months in pre-sentence custody and was on a parole order six months before the offences.

Clarke pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle, armed robbery with personal violence, unlawful use of a motor vehicle wilfully damaged, driving without a licence, evade police, fail to provide a specimen of blood, two charges of going armed to cause fear, obstruct police and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He was sentenced to four years behind bars but will be eligible for parole in February, 2024. The time spent in pre-sentence custody was not declared time served.

He was disqualified from driving for three years.

A conviction was recorded.