Cleve Frederick Shaw used his own car as a getaway for armed robber

A Gold Coast labourer used his own car as the getaway vehicle for a brazen daylight armed robbery at a pawn shop in Robina.

A GOLD Coast labourer used his own car as the getaway vehicle for a brazen daylight armed robbery at a pawn shop in Robina.

Cleve Frederick Shaw then tried to hide the robber Jason Konow in the boot of the car – in full view of CCTV cameras in the car park.

It took police two days to track down Shaw who had driven the car home to the Mudgeeraba caravan park.

The 46-year-old pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Wednesday to accessory after the fact of robbery.

The court was told Shaw took Konow to the Robina Cash Converters about 9.20am on July 13 last year.

Entering the store in a wig and mask, and carrying a gel blaster gun under a blanket, Konow yelled: “This is a stick up, everyone get on the floor.”

Konow ordered an employee to open a safe and took off with jewellery that would have sold for more than $52,000.

Konow then ran from the store to a nearby car park where Shaw was parked.

Shaw opened the boot for Konow to jump in.

Police located Shaw’s car at the caravan park and searched his place.

The court was told Shaw told police: “Konow is a crazy type of guy and does crazy things.”

He also denied any knowledge of the robbery, but Shaw’s information did help police identify Konow as the robber.

Konow pleaded guilty to the robbery in July and was sentenced to five years’ prison with a parole release date in January next year.

On Wednesday, Judge David Kent sentenced Shaw to 18 months’ prison with immediate release on parole.

“I hope you realise this is very serious conduct,” he said to Shaw.

“Don’t put any disguised people in the boot of your car.

“Do you understand that?”

Defence barrister Jason Buckland, instructed by Karsas Lawyers, said Shaw had worked as a caretaker at a wedding venue in the hinterland and when the coronavirus pandemic hit lost his job and had to sell his caravan.

He sold the caravan to Konow.

Mr Buckland said at the time of the robbery Shaw was renting the caravan back from Konow.

He said Shaw was volunteering with the Salvation Army and hoped that work would lead to paid employment.

Follow @leae