Billy Martens: Electrician allegedly threatened shop attendants with kitchen knife in Randwick

Two shop attendants were allegedly confronted with a knife-wielding robber at a service station and convenience store in Sydney’s east.

Perouse St, Randwick. Photo: Google Maps

An apprentice electrician experiencing “financial stress” allegedly threatened two separate shop attendants at seperate Randwick businesses with a kitchen knife, a court has heard.

Billy Martens, 25, was granted bail at Waverley Local Court on Tuesday after he was charged with two counts of robbery armed with an offensive weapon.

Court documents reveal between 11.29pm and 11.45pm on September 4 Martens allegedly robbed cables, chargers, power banks and Prime drinks from Ezy Mart, Randwick while armed with a knife.

He later allegedly robbed $400 cash and cigarettes” from BP Randwick, also while armed with a knife.

In reading out the police facts tendered to court, Magistrate Ross Hudson said the details were “concerning”.

Waverley Local Court House. Picture by Damian Shaw

He said Martens allegedly pointed a 22cm kitchen knife towards one shop attendant before grabbing “a number of cables, charges, power banks” and three bottles of Prime with a total cost of about $200.

Martens then allegedly headed towards BP Randwick where he greeted the second shop attendant, saying “hello, hi”, before pulling out the knife.

Mr Hudson said Martens allegedly told the employee to open the drawer and give him money, where he is accused of taking all the notes, “holding the knife in one hand and cash in the other”.

“(The shop attendant) said I was so scared my heart was beating so fast,” Mr Hudson said.

After Martens was arrested by police he allegedly said “I’ve done some stupid s**t, I don’t want to say, I’ll show you where everything is”.

Mr Hudson said the proceeds were allegedly found in a stairwell and during an interview, Martens said he was “highly intoxicated”.

In opposing Martens bail, the police prosecutor said it was “extremely serious offending” saying Martens was facing “financial stress” at the time due to an injury meaning he was unable to work.

She said the prosecution “doesn’t get much stronger than this” and if Martens was convicted he was likely to receive a custodial sentence.

In reply, Martens’ lawyer noted his client’s “prior good character”, saying he is in his third year of an electrician apprenticeship.

“He hasn’t worked for five weeks because of a slipped disc,” the lawyer said.

The court heard Martens “does have the benefit of living with his partner” who is a hotel manager.

The lawyer said his client was highly intoxicated at the time of the alleged offending and he suffered from anxiety and depression, to which he is medicated for.

He told the court he didn’t know whether the client’s partner “knows where he is now”.

The lawyer said the matters wouldn’t be finalised for a significant period and Martens was expecting to get back to work “any day now”.

Mr Hudson ultimately granted the 25-year-old bail, acknowledging there could be delay in the court process.

He told the court Martens had considerable debts, but he was satisfied bail concerns could be mitigated by strict conditions.

Martens must report to Randwick police station everyday, adhere to a curfew between 9pm and 6am, comply with drug and alcohol testing no more than three times a week and accept any treatment from a general practitioner.

The matter will return to Downing Centre Local Court on November 2.