Damon Crapper: Armed robbery at Doncaster East’s The Pines
A young man with an unfortunate surname went in a desperate search for cash, holding a knife to several people at a Doncaster East shopping centre. He may have got some money, but his efforts certainly weren’t the most impressive.
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A young man who tried to rob several people at knifepoint at a Doncaster East shopping centre has admitted he’s “not very good at crime”.
A judge agreed with Damon Shane Crapper’s claim when he fronted the County Court this month, having pleaded guilty to charges for armed robbery and attempted armed robbery.
The Greensborough 22-year-old had just discharged himself from drug rehab and stolen a knife from a supermarket when he went to the indoor carpark at The Pines to rob people for money.
But he didn’t have any luck when he hid his face with his jumper and tried to get cash from a woman at her car about 5.30pm.
Crapper pulled the 15cm knife from his pocket and demanded cash, before he was told she was sorry, she didn’t have any, and she asked what else he would like.
The amateur crim then put the knife back in the sheath, repeatedly apologised and walked away calmly.
He tried the same stunt again about 6pm, pointing the knife at a man who was returning to his car with his 16-year-old son, saying, “Give me your money or I’ll stab you”.
The man handed him $50 before Crapper approached his son, demanding more money.
The dad told Crapper to leave, and the amateur thief headed towards a bus stop.
The dad tried to follow Crapper and get a photo of him, causing the crim to run at him and threaten to stab him.
The man and his son left and Crapper was arrested that evening.
The court heard Crapper, who had no criminal history, told police he was “not very good at crime”.
Judge Fiona Todd said that was a “a sound assessment” of his “amateurish” offending, but noted Crapper grew in competence during his offending.
Crapper told police he swore on his life he would never stab anyone.
The court heard the former St Helena Secondary College student had struggled with significant drug, alcohol and anxiety issues since he was 16, for which he’d been seeking treatment for five years.
On the day of his crime he was upset and had been given valium at rehab before he left the facility and drank wine.
The court heard the mix of the medication, distress and alcohol would have had an unusual effect on Crapper, who was acting out of desperation to get money for drugs.
Judge Todd noted Crapper understood he had terrified his victims and said he had good rehabilitative prospects.
She sentenced him to the 66 days’ jail he had already served before being granted bail and placed him on a 36-month community corrections order.
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