Anthony Alapati, Andrew Manu sentenced to jail for terrifying Fins on Finnegan attempted robbery

Two men’s attempted robbery of a Gold Coast eatery - and brutal attack on its manager - was so terrifying it left a witness with nightmares. Find out what happened when they faced court.

Fins on Finnegan attempted armed robbery. Pictures: file/QPS

Two men who tried to rob a Gold Coast fish and chip shop – savagely attacking its manager and trashing the store – are now at risk of deportation to New Zealand after facing court.

Staff at Coomera’s Fins on Finnegan were cleaning up after closing when Anthony Solofa James Alapati, 27, and Andrew Steven Manu, 28, entered through an open side door on December 17.

Southport District Court was told they shoved the manager and demanded to know where the safe was.

Alapati pulled a ‘gun’ – later identified as a gel blaster – from his bumbag when he was told the store did not have a safe.

Both men repeatedly punched the store manager while continuing to demand money and order a female employee to stay inside, with Manu picking up a nearby milk crate and slamming it into the victim’s head during the struggle.

The pair fled after a third staff member ran for help.

Fins on Finnegan fish and chip shop. Picture by Richard Gosling

Police found the gel blaster when they tracked down Alapati and Manu’s vehicle a short time later.

The court was told the store manager suffered bruising and swelling to his face and a cut to the back of his head. It was heard the female employee who witnessed the attack was unable to return to that workplace or any job requiring night hours, and sometimes had nightmares.

Manu spent the almost 10 months since his arrest in custody, while Alapati was released on bail after 70 days.

Police footage of arrests made after an attempted armed robbery at Fins on Finnegan at Coomera in December last year. Picture: QPS

Friends and family members lined the courtroom during their sentencing, including Alapati’s partner and their six-month-old son.

Defence barristers Matt Hynes and Tracy Thorp – for Alapati and Manu respectively – said their clients were struggling with drug abuse and were desperate for money at the time.

Mr Hynes said Alapati had "changed his life to a degree” since being released on bail, getting clean and working to support his family.

Judge Jennifer Rosengren said she appreciated the “devastating” impact jail time would have on both men’s families, particularly as they would have their visas cancelled and face an unknown wait in immigration detention if applying for revocation.

“The violence was no joke, those poor people … (it) would have been absolutely terrifying for them,” Judge Rosengren said.

“Men of your age – whether or not in the grip of substance abuse – must know that if they terrorise innocent people in the community like this, they will very likely go to jail for more than the two-and-a-bit months that (Alapati) served.”

Alapati and Manu both pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery in company and with personal violence.

They were sentenced to four years’ jail, suspended for four years after serving 14 months.