Nikolaus Alexander Blyton sentenced over 2018 armed robbery and grievous bodily harm

A man who robbed a millionaire’s son at gunpoint killed his father in self-defence during a house boat attack 11 years ago.

Nikolaus Alexander Blyton, 30, on Monday avoided actual jail time for the armed robbery, and grievous bodily harm of Luke Tomlinson at Helensvale on July 19, 2018.

A MAN who robbed a millionaire’s son at gunpoint killed his father in self-defence during a house boat attack 11 years ago.

Nikolaus Alexander Blyton, 30, on Monday avoided actual jail time for the armed robbery, and grievous bodily harm of Luke Tomlinson at Helensvale on July 19, 2018.

The Southport District Court heard Blyton was in a car with two men and Tomlinson, who had earlier withdrawn $30,000 from the bank to repay debts.

Blyton, who had a sawn-off shotgun at his feet, turned to Tomlinson in the back seat and demanded the money, Judge Deborah Holliday said.

“The complainant initially thought you were joking and told you to get f — ked,” she said. “You then pulled out a sawn-off shotgun and told the complainant to give you the money or you would shoot him in the leg.”

Blyton pointed the gun at Tomlinson before the pair struggled. The gun fired, striking Tomlinson in the leg.

Nikolaus Alexander Blyton, 30, on Monday avoided actual jail time for the armed robbery, and grievous bodily harm of Luke Tomlinson at Helensvale on July 19, 2018.

He handed over $12,500 and was told not to tell the police. He was later left in the middle of the road.

Tomlinson, who had not co-operated with authorities, had his leg amputated below the knee from injuries suffered in the shooting.

The court heard the firing of the gun was not deliberate.

“It is clearly very serious offending,” Judge Holliday said. “It was you that introduced the weapon and you robbed the complainant of $12,500. It was in the struggle for the weapon that it discharged and it had devastating consequences for the complainant.”

The court heard Blyton had previously been charged with the murder of his father, 66-year-old Ron Livingstone. He was later acquitted of all charges, the court heard.

Luke Tomlinson leaving Southport District Court.

Blyton’s defence counsel explained he “killed his father effectively in self-defence” after he came at him with a knife on a house boat at Hope Island in November 2011.

The Crown argued for more jail time, but barrister Christopher Wilson said he had already spent a considerable time in custody on charges that he was either acquitted of, or were not proceeded with.

Judge Holliday sentenced Blyton to five years’ jail, immediately suspended for the grievous bodily harm, and three years’ prison with immediate parole for the armed robbery.

She took into account his “very unique circumstances” including the time he spent in custody which had not previously been declared, that he had spent five-and-a-half years out of the last eight in prison, and had made efforts to rehabilitate since the shooting.

Tomlinson is the son of Owen Tomlinson, a well-known Gold Coast identity, having brought the Gold Coast Blaze National Basketball League team to town.

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Originally published as Nikolaus Alexander Blyton sentenced over 2018 armed robbery and grievous bodily harm