Laine Orchard jailed for stealing from ex-boss at Rococos St Kilda, Hawthorn
An ex-St Kilda restaurant manager who robbed a former colleague at knifepoint later told police he was “probably the politest person who had ever robbed someone”. But his ‘kindness’ didn’t win him any points in court.
Inner South
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An ex-St Kilda restaurant manager has been jailed for stealing more than $6000 from his former employer and robbing his colleague at knifepoint.
Laine Orchard, 24, told the County Court he did it because he felt “f****d over” by his former boss at Rococo on Acland St and needed the money to feed his gambling addiction.
Orchard, originally from Geelong, worked as a supervisor at Rococo venues in St Kilda and Hawthorn, between June 2018 and April 2019 when he was sacked for stealing from the St Kilda restaurant’s till.
The former DJ, who has a history of committing theft and armed robbery offences, said he made the “stupid decision” to steal from Rococo after he was fired from posh inner-city restaurant Ezard in August when his criminal record was discovered.
In September, Orchard used the key and alarm codes he had been given while employed at the restaurant to break into the Hawthorn venue after midnight and steal $5500 cash from the safe.
About a week later, Orchard crept into the closed Hawthorn venue while the manager was locking up and ran at him with a knife.
He fled and called police and later returned to find $255 had been stolen from the cash register.
Orchard, although wearing a hoodie mask, was identified from CCTV footage.
About a month later, Orchard again entered the Hawthorn venue at closing time and pointed a large knife at his former colleague, demanding he hand over his phone and open the safe.
The worker handed over an envelope with about $340 inside.
As Orchard was leaving he told his former colleague, “thanks for your co-operation, you can call the police now”.
He was arrested later that night at Crown Casino and told police he was “probably the politest person who had ever robbed someone”.
The court heard Orchard had several prior convictions for theft, armed robbery, recklessly causing injury and property damage.
He was also placed on the Queensland sex offenders’ registry as a result of a relationship he had with a 14-year-old when he was 18.
Judge Anne Hassan said Orchard’s offending was “serious” and “involved a breach of trust” against his former employer.
“You made use of both the key you had acquired during your employment and your familiarity with the security equipment,” she said.
“It was premeditated … (and) it was motivated by animosity against your former employer.
“The most immediate of your victims were people at their workplace, vulnerable because they were alone and closing up the business for the night.”
While on remand, Orchard has undertaken several courses and has enrolled in a Bachelor of Business Management at the University of Southern Queensland, which is due to start next year.
Judge Hassan sentenced Orchard to three years and nine months in jail. He must serve at least two years and two months before being eligible for parole.
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