Nigel Willacy sentenced for breaking into Lismore home after armed BP service station robbery

A Northern Rivers man who raided a home armed with a knife and previously held up a servo worker at knifepoint has been jailed – but could be back on the street this week.

Nigel Willacy leaves Lismore Courthouse.

A Northern Rivers man who broke into a home with a knife and previously held up a service station worker at knifepoint has been jailed – but could be back on the street this week.

Nigel Willacy, 24, of Lismore was sentenced on Tuesday after pleading guilty on January 9 to breaking and entering a house and stealing and going armed with intent to commit an indictable offence.

Richmond Police District officers were called to the Uralba St, Lismore break-in about 11pm on December 29 last year.

They then spotted a man now known to be Willacy running from the scene.

Willacy was tracked down on Laurel Ave shortly after and found to be carrying a knife, according to court documents.

Willacy was arrested and taken to Lismore Police Station.

He was refused bail and has remained in custody.

Willacy was armed with a 20cm kitchen knife during the BP robbery.

Willacy was sentenced in May last year after pleading guilty to robbery armed with an offensive weapon.

He entered the BP on Dawson St, Lismore with a scarf on his head and a baseball cap.

He approached a man working at the shop, held him up with a large knife and demanded cash and cigarettes.

Willacy took more than 25 boxes of cigarettes and about $540 in cash before fleeing, the court was told.

On Tuesday, defence solicitor Ms Wood asked the court to consider an intensive corrections order (ICO) when sentencing Willacy for the latest property offending.

The request was denied because Willacy was already serving an ICO when he reoffended, the court heard.

Magistrate Michael Dakin sentenced Willacy to 12-months in prison backdated to December 29 last year.

It’s expected Willacy will be released on parole on Friday.

Originally published as Nigel Willacy sentenced for breaking into Lismore home after armed BP service station robbery