Saipele Mataafa jailed for bashing and robbing man in Noble Park
A violent robber who dragged his victim from a car and repeatedly punched him in the head in Noble Park, before he and his co-offender fled laughing, has been jailed.
South East
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A menace with a history of violence has been jailed after he bashed and robbed a man in Noble Park.
Saipele Mataafa, 22, was sentenced in the County Court on August 6 to a minimum three years’ prison after pleading guilty to armed robbery and common assault.
Mataafa was cruising the streets of Noble Park in a stolen Holden Commodore driven by his alleged co-offender on July 31, 2018 when they pulled up beside a man sitting in his car talking on the phone just after 1am.
Mataafa’s co-offender allegedly pulled out a black handgun and pointed it at the man.
“Money, money, money, give me money,” the co-offender is alleged to have said.
Mataafa then got out of the car and went around to the victim, punching him repeatedly in the head and dragging him from the car.
Mataafa searched the victim’s car before he stole the man’s phone and hopped back in the Commodore.
The victim screamed for help and one of his housemates came out.
The housemate approached the Commodore but the co-offender allegedly pointed the gun at him and he and Mataafa laughed as they fled the scene.
Mataafa eventually handed himself in to police the following month when he admitted his role and put the finger on his alleged co-offender.
Judge Lisa Hannan said Mataafa’s crimes were “serious” but “not sophisticated”.
“(This was) gratuitous violence against a man who was by himself,” she said.
“We all have a right to live and work in our community without being subjected to this kind of violent offending.
“The message must be clear that condign punishment will result in appropriate circumstances.”
Judge Hannan said Mataafa’s record of violence, which includes convictions for assaulting an emergency services worker while on duty and aggravated burglary, was “concerning”.
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She also said previous community corrections orders had not worked and prison was his only option.
Mataafa was jailed for a maximum of four years and six months but will be eligible for parole after three years.
He had spent 355 days in custody at the time of sentencing.