Maddison Brown: Brisbane man pulls knife on stranger in Hungry Jacks carpark

‘I’m already on the run’: A court has heard of a Brisbane man’s cocky words shortly before his arrest after he pulled a knife on a teenager at Hungry Jacks when he refused a car race.

A Brisbane man has appeared in court after pulling a knife on a teenager who refused to race him in a Hungry Jacks carpark.

Maddison Brown, 26, of Holland Park fronted Beenleigh District Court on Thursday, July 28 and pleaded guilty to three charges: armed robbery, unlawful use of a vehicle, and driving without a licence disqualified by a court order.

The court heard the offending took place late at night on August 27 last year in a Hungry Jacks carpark, where Brown “set upon” his then-18-year-old victim and challenged him to a “car race” for $100 or a phone.

Crown prosecutor Aden Tranent said the man refused and Brown subsequently produced a knife.

The 18-year-old ran away and Brown entered his car, stealing his phone and wallet before fleeing in another stolen car.

“Thanks for the phone,” Brown was quoted as saying.

“Good luck catching me, I’m already on the run.”

Police commenced an investigation, using a helicopter for surveillance, and arrested him a short time later.

Officers located the stolen wallet in the car Brown was in and the stolen phone, which had been thrown out of a window, at Pimpama.

Mr Tranent said the young man’s offending was by and large “unsophisticated”, but would certainly have been “frightening” for his victim.

The court heard Brown is currently serving a sentence of more than six years and three months, which expires in October 2023, for other offences.

He had spent 334 days – some 11 months – in custody by Thursday.

Defence barrister Sarah Thompson said her client was using drugs and dealing with family conflict when he committed the crimes before the court.

She said he had previously been employed in landscaping and carpentry but had not worked for the past four years.

The court heard Brown began using methamphetamine at about 16 years old, when he became involved with people who were a negative influence.

He is employed as a unit worker and on waitlists for a number of courses while in custody.

Judge Craig Chowdhury took into account Brown’s violent history, the significant period of time he had already spent in custody, and his pleas of guilty when deciding an appropriate penalty.

Brown was ultimately sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with parole eligibility on January 28 next year.