Rylee Dylan Poland and Aaron Armstrong plead guilty to attempted robbery

Two Sunshine Coast men who attempted to rob a man of pokie winnings at a popular beachside hotel have faced court, with one ordered to face his mother as he learnt his fate.

Alex Hotel, Alexandra Headlands.

A young man who attempted to steal another man’s $4000 pokies winnings at knifepoint has been ordered to face his mother as he learnt his fate in court.

Rylee Dylan Poland, 21, appeared in the Maroochydore District Court on Monday, November 6, where he was sentenced after pleading guilty to attempted robbery in company at the Alexandra Headland Hotel on November 24, 2022.

Poland’s co-accused Aaron Armstrong, 25, also pleaded guilty to attempted robbery whilst armed.

Armstrong’s bail was extended and he will appear back before the court for his sentence on February 19, 2024.

Crown prosecutor Nicola Hamilton told the court the two men were at the Alexandra Headland Hotel when they saw two men win $4000 on the pokies.

“The defendant and Armstrong witnessed the win and at some point during the night the defendant spoke with (one of the complainants) near the bar, commenting on his big win,” Ms Hamilton said.

Ms Hamilton told the court Poland and Armstrong then left the hotel, change into different clothes before returning.

“Armstrong grabbed the complainant by the scruff of the neck and grabbed a small knife from his pocket and demanded ‘give me your wallet’,” Ms Hamilton said.

Maroochydore Court House. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The court was told the complainant pushed Armstrong, telling him to f--k off and the defendants both fled out of the hotel.

Ms Hamilton told the court it was accepted Poland did not know his co-offender, Armstrong, was also armed with a knife at the time.

Barrister for Poland, Nathan Turner told the court the 21-year-old’s offending was “amateurish and unsophisticated”.

“It is a low level example of this type of offence,” Mr Turner said.

District Court Judge Nicholas Andreatidis ordered Poland stand and face his mother, who was present in the public gallery, while he told him to focus on her support and “unwavering love” rather than the “other crap that makes you do the bad things you do.”

“Have you any concept of what a useful member of society you can be? I hope you do,” Mr Andreatidis said.

Poland was sentenced to 15 months’ jail with a parole release date of November 29, 2023.