Pregnant Beenleigh woman robs servo with scissors for two drinks and pack of cigarettes
“This is a robbery”: A pregnant Logan mother’s chilling words to a service station worker during an armed hold up have been revealed in court, along with the devastating reason that drove her to commit the crime in the first place.
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A pregnant Beenleigh woman who robbed a Loganholme servo with a pair of scissors for a soft drink and pack of cigarettes, said her meth use was to blame.
Emery Johnstone, 25, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh District Court to one count of armed robbery with dangerous violence and possession and supply of drugs for charges separate to the robbery.
The court heard on March 28 last year, Johnstone entered a Freedom Fuels petrol station in Loganholme at midday, grabbed two drinks out of the fridge, put them on the counter and asked for a pack of cigarettes.
She told the checkout attendant she will not be paying for the items.
“I’m taking these, this is a robbery,” she said and then pulled a pair of scissors out of her bag.
Johnstone put the scissors to the left side of her body and threatened the worker.
She left with the items and the petrol station worker called police, who saw the defendant on the station’s CCTV footage.
The court also heard that on March 20, 2021, in Regents Park, Johnstone shared methamphetamine with a friend.
There was evidence of a transaction on text messages sent from her phone and she pleaded guilty to possession and supply of the drug.
Judge Chowdhury said he empathises with employees working alone who have to deal with these frightening situations.
“I feel sorry for all the console operators who deal with this, they are seen as an easy target,” he said.
Chowdhury also said Johnstone needed to focus on her sobriety.
“Meth is well known to cause psychosis in people and you’re pregnant so it is even more important you stay healthy.
“For two drinks and a pack of cigarettes, it is not worth to serve 263 days in prison.”
Johnstone received a suspended two and a half year prison sentence and a year long probation order.
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