Mason Riley: Ballarat drug addict threatens ATM customer with syringe

A Ballarat drug addict told a police officer he thought threatening a bank customer with a syringe was a ‘little bit funny’.

A would-be armed robber brandished a syringe at an ATM customer in broad daylight in the middle of the city before telling police his crime was “a little bit funny”.

Mason John Michael Riley, 20, faced the Melbourne County Court by video link from jail on Monday, where he pleaded guilty to the attempted armed robbery of an ATM customer on Swanston St.

He also pleaded guilty to breaching bail by leaving his mother’s house in Ballarat in April, where a magistrate had ordered him to live.

The court heard Riley pulled the cap off a syringe, brandished it at a customer who was depositing $50 cash into his account and said: “Give me the $50 or I’ll stab you”.

Prosecutor Andrew Sprague said the victim felt threatened and concerned for his safety, but made off without handing the cash over then rang police.

Mason Riley, 20, (right) has pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery. Picture: Facebook/Supplied

Riley, of no fixed address, was at the time homeless in Melbourne and was spending most of his money on drugs.

In an interview with police, the court heard Riley was smiling and, when an officer told him threatening people with syringes wasn’t funny, he replied: “Well, it’s a little bit funny”.

Judge Michael Tinney said people were terrified of being stabbed by syringes.

“It’s not just because people don’t like needles, it’s because people don’t like diseases that come with syringes,” he said.

Riley’s barrister, Julian Murphy, said his client hadn’t planned the “obviously unsophisticated” attempted robbery, and couldn’t have even made a quick getaway because he was barefoot.

He said Riley had a good upbringing among a loving family, but started using drugs when his parents separated.

Mr Murphy said the syringe was clean, but Judge Tinney said Riley’s victim would not have known that and was nevertheless terrified at being threatened with it.

Judge Tinney said criminals “don’t go and rob banks anymore, and for good reason”, and that most holdups in recent years were “soft target” robberies or attempted robberies on unsuspecting victims.

He said Riley’s plan to “live in Maryborough with his ex drug user mates” when he was released looked like a “disaster” and he would need help to kick his drug habit.

Riley will be sentenced next week.