Ryan Andrew Mackrill and Nicholas Paul Webster held victim at knife point and forced him to pull down his pants

Two repeat offenders stole a stranger’s $4000 watch by holding him at knifepoint – and left him humiliated by forcing him to pull his pants down.

Two repeat offenders stole a stranger’s $4000 watch by holding him at knifepoint – and left him humiliated by forcing him to pull his pants down.

Ryan Andrew Mackrill and Nicholas Paul Webster completed the late-night robbery on the Paradise Point Esplanade on April 18 last year by taking the victim’s hat.

The victim now “feels as though he can never go out at night again”.

Mackrill, 30, and Webster, 25, pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Thursday to armed robbery and fraud.

The court was told the victim was walking along the Esplanade listening to music about 10.15pm when he heard the men approach.

Mackrill was brandishing a hammer, while Webster had a knife with a rusty blade.

Crown prosecutor Mitch Whelan said the men asked the victim about an Asian man he was seen with earlier.

Mr Whelan said the victim thought it was a case of mistaken identity as he had not been with anyone that night.

Mackrill and Webster then took his watch, car keys and wallet – and the cap from his head.

In total, the property was worth more than $7000.

They then demanded to know what was in his pants and made the victim pull them down.

The pair were caught when they used the victim’s ATM card to withdraw $200.

“The complainant feels as though he can never go out at night again,” Mr Whelan said.

“It was brazen, there was an element of humiliation with the complainant being told to take off his pants.”

Judge Deborah Holliday sentenced Webster to two years’ prison with immediate parole eligibility. She sentenced Mackrill to three years’ prison with immediate parole release. Both have served 321 days in pre-sentence custody.

Webster is also serving prison time for an unrelated offence.

“I accept that it was brazen, premeditated and involved an element of humiliation,” she said.

Lawyers for both Mackrill and Webster said their clients were remorseful and looking to turn over a new leaf.

Mackrill has a nine-page criminal history while Webster also had a significant criminal history for dishonesty offences.

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