Goonellabah man John Robert Cole jailed for armed robbery, holding up biz workers at gunpoint

A brazen northern NSW robber held victims at gunpoint, locked them in a safe and stole more than $41,000 in a business heist – before he rode off to buy a roast chook, new threads and an acai bowl.

John Robert Cole held up several people at gunpoint during a business raid. Picture: Facebook

A Northern Rivers robber held several victims at gunpoint and stole more than $41,000 in a brazen business heist before he rode off to buy a roast chook, clothing and an acai bowl.

Goonellabah man John Robert Cole told police who tracked him down the tens of thousands of dollars in stolen cash was his “Royal Commission payout”.

The northern NSW gunman has been sentenced in Lismore District Court following the solo raid of a Lennox Head business on July 14 last year.

The 42-year-old man pleaded guilty to two counts of taking a person to commit a serious indictable offence and one count each of intimidation, robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon and aggravated break-and-enter to commit a serious indictable offence.

Court documents reveal a worker at the business in Lennox Head – a beachside tourism village near Ballina – woke in his room to see Cole wearing a hoodie and scarf over his face.

The shocked staff member leapt out of bed and shouted: “What the f--k?”.

Cole aimed a black pistol at him and began to ask for the man to “give” him something, but the brave worker chased Cole from the property.

Once Cole had fled, the man noticed a balcony door was left open and a pair of business master keys were missing.

The man immediately changed locks at a cost of about $11,750, but that did not deter Cole, according to police – he snuck through an unlocked door several hours later.

Once inside, Cole pointed the gun at another victim in the business and exclaimed: “Don’t move – you are getting robbed.”

Cole ordered that victim to stay inside a cool room and then went to a pokies room, where he held up two business workers at gunpoint.

“I have taken the Asian out. Take me to the safe, I know where it is,” Cole told them, according to the documents.

The gunman stole four cash storage “cassettes” containing at least $41,750 – then locked workers in the safe room.

Coles hopped on a bike and began to make his escape, however, a witness snapped a photo and yelled out: “I’ve got ya’ mate.”

The robber continued on but warned the witness: “Stop that, or I’ll shoot you.”

Not long after the initial entry and the robbery, about 9am, Cole was captured on CCTV purchasing a roast chicken at Lennox Head IGA.

Cole purchased a roast chicken from Lennox Head IGA soon after the brazen robbery. Picture: File

Cole then meandered into Lennox Surf Shop, where he paid cash for about $850 of clothing.

Police found the hungry thief munching on an acai bowl and carrying his chook across the road from the shop.

He spotted officers and bolted – throwing the chicken on nearby cafe patrons. However, Cole did not make it far and was taken down.

Cole told police a bag he was carrying contained his “Royal Commission payout”. It was not specified in documents which proceedings Cole may be referring to.

Officers found a gel blaster in Cole’s car, while four empty cash canisters – “cassettes” – were found washed up on Seven Mile Beach

Police returned most of the stolen cash to the business.

Last week, Judge Jonathan Priestley sentenced Cole to six years jail, backdated, with a non-parole period of three-and-a-half-years.

Cole will be eligible for parole in January 20

Originally published as Goonellabah man John Robert Cole jailed for armed robbery, holding up biz workers at gunpoint