Damian Leeding’s murder: Getaway driver Benjamin Power steals $1500 to play on pokies

The getaway driver of a botched robbery that left a Gold Coast cop dead 10 years ago has pleaded guilty to stealing a wallet containing $1500. FULL DETAILS >>>

THE getaway driver of a botched robbery that left a cop dead 10 years ago stole a wallet containing $1500 from a staff member at a clothing store.

Benjamin Ernest Power pumped the money into pokie machines at a nearby pub.

The 47-year-old said he stole the cash after losing his job following media coverage of the death of Coomera detective Damian Leeding. He was shot while attending a robbery at the Pacific Pines Tavern on May 29, 2011.

Power was the getaway driver and pleaded guilty in 2014 to manslaughter.

He was sentenced to nine years’ prison and released on parole in 2019. Phillip Graeme Abell and co-accused Donna Lee McAvoy were convicted of Detective Leeding’s murder and remain behind bars.

In the Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Power pleaded guilty to stealing.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Erin Livingstone told the court Power went into the staffroom at the Pimpama Best & Less about 11.15am on June 14 and stole a wallet.

He was captured on CCTV.

The wallet contained about $1500 cash and was worth about $600.

Detective Senior Constable Damian Leeding (35), attached to the Coomera Criminal Investigation Branch, was shot in the face during an armed robbery at Pacific Pines.

Sent Const Livingstone said Power then went to the Pimpama Tavern and put the money into the pokie machines.

“He told police he lost his job and put the money into the poker machines to make more money to pay his rent,” she said.

Sen Const Livingstone said Power told police he flushed the cards and threw the wallet away.

He gave the cash back to police.

Benjamin Ernest Power was sentenced to nine years' jail for his role as 'look-out' on the night Damian Leeding was killed. Picture: 9NEWS

Defence lawyer Sam Jackson, of Bamberry Lawyers, said after his release on parole Power had found work as a scaffolder.

He said Power lost his job after articles commemorating the anniversary of Detective Leeding’s death.

“There was frustration about why he lost his job and he made the error in judgment,” he said.

Mr Jackson said Power would have returned the wallet if he knew where it was.

‘A CITY UNDER SIEGE’: WHAT COAST WAS LIKE IN LEAD-UP TO DAMIAN LEEDING’S DEATH

He said Power was remorseful for taking the money as well as his previous criminal history.

Magistrate Grace Kahlert fined Power $500 and ordered he pay $600 in restitution for the wallet.

She described Power’s offending as “opportunistic”.

“Of recent times it is out of character for you to engage in that sort of behaviour,” she said.

She said Power had some “reasonable prospects” for rehabilitation.

LEEDING KILLER’S COLD-BLOODED PAST

Power covered his face with a puzzle book advertising a cash prize of $100,000 as he left court.

Damian Leeding and wife Sonya. Picture: Supplied

On the 10th anniversary of Detective Leeding’s death in May, his wife Sonya, a detective in the Gold Coast Child Protection Investigation Unit, told the Bulletin that she had never come face-to-face with Power until running into him at a suburban shopping centre in July 2019.

“I was really shocked. I’m assuming he registered (who I was) as well, which is why he took off. That was a bit of a shock. I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to do about it, if anything.”

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Originally published as Damian Leeding’s murder: Getaway driver Benjamin Power steals $1500 to play on pokies