Matthew Alan Taylor sentenced for armed robbery at Hotel Queanbeyan

The victim of a terrifying armed robbery in which a shot was fired next to his head has given an emotional impact statement, as the offender was jailed for the crime.

The victim of a terrifying armed robbery in which a gun was shot close to his head has shared the enduring psychological toll the crime has had on his life.

Matthew Alan Taylor, 42, was jailed for eight years in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court for a ram raid of a Queanbeyan pub four years ago.

The victim was working as a bartender, closing up at Hotel Queanbeyan when Taylor reversed a dark Mitsubishi Triton into the venue and held him up at gunpoint.

He told the court he has been forever changed.

“The gun shot was less than a metre away from me and the gun was pointed at me,” the victim said.

“I now have constant panic attacks … I had to move back in with my family … I’ve faced great financial hardship because I couldn’t work for a long time.”

The tearful victim said he still gets nightmares about the terrifying night of November 15, 2018.

Judge Nicole Noman said it was clear the crime had a lasting impact on the victim.

Matthew Alan Taylor robbed Hotel Queanbeyan in 2018. Picture: NSW Police

Reading out agreed facts, Judge Noman said the offender stole the car in the days leading up to the crime and drove it into the venue at 12:30am after speaking with a co-offender who had been in the bar that night.

Two staff members were working in the hotel at the time.

One of them managed to hide in the bathroom and the other man tried to hide in the office, but Taylor fired at the door to get inside.

Taylor, who had covered his face during the robbery, escaped with nearly $28,000 and later set the stolen car alight.

After pleading not guilty to three charges — robbery armed with a dangerous weapon, taking and driving a conveyance without the consent of the owner and destroying property with fire — Taylor was found guilty by a jury on September 2.

Judge Noman said Taylor had spent about 17 years of his adult life in prison and considered himself institutionalised.

The court heard he had a traumatic upbringing and struggled with substance abuse, particularly of heroin, which contributed to his descent into crime.

Taylor was sentenced to eight years jail with a non parole period of five years, backdated to April 6, 2021.

He will be eligible for release on parole on April 5, 2026.