Matthew Merrigan and Michael Robb jailed for Knox 7-Eleven robbery

A Box Hill man who threatened to stab a teenager and tried to rob several “soft targets” at a 7-Eleven next to Knox Westfield has been jailed. But he had no memory of the incident due to the amount of alcohol and prescription pills he consumed beforehand.

Merrigan held a knife as he tried to rob teenagers in a 7-Eleven store.

A man who threatened to stab a teenager as he tried to rob several customers at the 7-Eleven next to Knox Westfield has been jailed.

Box Hill’s Matthew Carl Merrigan brandished a knife while demanding cash from the “freaked out” teenagers at the store in October 2018, the County Court heard.

The 25-year-old was sentenced to eight months’ jail and a subsequent community corrections order on June 25 after he pleaded guilty to one charge of armed robbery, one charge of attempted robbery and unlawful assault.

The incident took place inside a 7-Eleven store.

The court heard Merrigan was in the store as well as two 15-year-olds, a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old on October 3, 2018 when he threw two plastic containers at two of them, before demanding one of the boys hand over $20.

The court heard Merrigan knocked a drink container out of one of the victim’s hands before Merrigan’s friend, Michael Raymond Robb, who has also been jailed over the incident, “physically removed” him from the store.

But Merrigan re-entered the shop and again demanded $20 from one of the customers, before revealing he was holding a knife.

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Another customer called for Merrigan to leave the boy alone and the offender responded, “Don’t touch me bro, or I’ll stab you”.

He made another demand for $20 before the “scared and stressed” teenager handed over $70.

Robb, who had re-entered the store during the altercation, stole a hat from one of the boys as the pair left the shop.

When they were arrested in a Forest Hill shopping centre carpark later that evening Merrigan was found to be carrying a different knife.

The incident happened at the 7-Eleven store next to Westfield Knox.

The court heard one of the teens, who had been a customer in the store, had faced nightmares and problems focusing on school since the incident.

“He suffers from fear of going out with friends,” Judge Richard Smith said.

“The victims of your offending were young and they were soft targets for you.

“You were in possession of a knife, capable of inflicting serious injuries.

“The customer reported that when he saw the knife, he freaked out.”

The court heard Merrigan had said he had no memory of the incident and had taken Xanax and drank two bottles of bourbon before his crimes, while Robb was also under the influence of Xanax and alcohol.

Judge Smith said Merrigan’s counsel suggestion of a sentence of a jail term less than the 39 days he had already served in detention would be too “lenient” for the offences.

Robb, 23, of Monbulk, was sentenced to six months’ jail and a subsequent two-year community correction order after he pleaded guilty to one charge of robbery and one charge of theft.

Judge Smith considered Robb’s “large number” of previous convictions, including for three thefts of a motor vehicle, possession of a firearm, and a series of driving offences, in sentencing.

“Your criminal record given your age is truly appalling,” he told Robb.