Scott Harrison: Armed robbery attempt on Bonwick St, Fawkner
A Fawkner man was followed from his home before a stranger tried to rob him at knifepoint, stabbing his car window and yelling threats. The attacker had been jailed for shooting someone in recent years.
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A Fawkner man was followed from his home before a stranger tried to rob him at knifepoint, stabbing his car window and threatening him as he made a dash to escape.
Unsuccessful in his bid for cash, the attacker, who had just fought with his partner, went on to steal inflatable Santas and electronic Christmas decorations, the County Court has heard.
Scott Harrison fronted the court on Wednesday, August 19 to be sentenced over the December 30 incident.
The court heard Harrison, who was riding a bicycle, watched the man leave his house in his car shortly after 3am, following him until he reached an ATM on Bonwick St about a minute later. .
As the man used the ATM, Harrison rode onto the footpath towards him, then stopped a few metres from the ATM and watched the man.
The man started walking back to his car and Harrison followed, calling for him to hand over money.
Harrison rode his bike to the front of the man’s car and pulled out a folding knife, pointing it at the man and again demanded money.
The court heard Harrison said he would make the man’s life hell if he didn’t give him some money, stating he knew where the man lived.
The man told Harrison he didn’t want any trouble and asked him to leave him alone, getting into his car and closing the door.
The driver’s window was slightly open and Harrison rode up to it and said, “Get the f*** out of the car and give me some money”.
The court heard the man, who was afraid he would be stabbed, reversed the car while Harrison stabbed the driver’s door window three times and continued to yell for money, moving with the moving car.
He managed to get away, and about three hours later Harrison went into a yard on Major Rd, stealing inflatable Santas and three battery-powered Christmas decorations.
The items were found at his home, along with three stolen bicycles, when Harrison was arrested on January 3.
The court heard the 38-year-old was completely intoxicated at the time of the crime, with alcohol, methamphetamine and GHB in his system.
He told authorities he had gone for a ride after arguing with his partner and didn’t remember much of the incident, but the attempted armed robbery and theft of the decorations were caught on CCTV.
Harrison has a lengthy criminal history spanning 20 years, and was jailed in 2016 for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and causing injury recklessly by shooting someone.
The court heard that as an Indigenous man, Harrison had wanted to have the matter dealt with in Koori court, but it had not been possible because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Judge Scott Johns said Harrison was entitled to a discounted sentence because of the utility of his early plea, and noted custody had been more stressful than usual for him as an asthmatic during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said he was satisfied Harrison had exhibited remorse for his offending, but had also considered the importance of denunciation and deterrence, as emphasised by the prosecution.
Judge Johns sentenced Harrison to nine months’ jail, with 229 days having already been served, followed by a two-year community corrections order including 100 hours of community work and drug and alcohol treatment.
He said the sentence would have been 3 and a half years’ jail with an 18-month non parole period if Harrison hadn’t pleaded guilty.
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