Machete robber who did doughnuts in stolen ute to ‘settle down’ was upset over cannabis theft, court hears

A MACHETE-wielding bandit who stole a maintenance worker’s ute so he could do doughnuts to ‘settle down’ because he was upset that someone had stolen his drugs has been jailed for more than three years.

Gibson Mamarika, 28, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court to armed robbery and causing $1625 in damage to the man’s HiLux. Picture: Che Chorley

A MACHETE-wielding bandit who stole a maintenance worker’s ute so he could do doughnuts to “settle down” because he was upset that someone had stolen his drugs has been jailed for more than three years.

Gibson Mamarika, 28, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court to armed robbery and causing $1625 in damage to the man’s HiLux after stealing it on Bickerton Island in March.

The court heard Mamarika approached the victim and another worker while holding a 45cm machete “in a threatening manner” as they were getting into the car at about 1pm on March 24.

Mamarika demanded the keys and the fearful workers got out off the car and he drove off before performing “burnouts and doughnuts” throughout the community for about three or four minutes.

He then lost control and crashed into a fence where the HiLux got stuck and he got out and walked away before again approaching the two workers to apologise.

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In sentencing, Justice Trevor Riley said Mamarika’s lawyer, Kate Bulling, had said her client was “suffering stress” at the time following a relationship breakdown and was also “upset because someone had stolen your cannabis”.

“You said you were desperate for cannabis to settle yourself down, and you thought you would take a joy ride to settle down (instead),” he said.

“As your counsel said, this does not provide a rational excuse for your offending.”

Justice Riley said Mamarika had started smoking cannabis at 15 and felt “agitated” when he couldn’t access it but was not under the influence of drugs when he took the “bizarre step” of stealing the ute.

“The offending which you come before the court in relation to is, as your counsel acknowledges, of a kind that reveals a lack of maturity,” he said.

“To steal a car to take a joy ride to ‘settle down’ is both immature and self-indulgent conduct — assessed at this time, I regard your prospects for rehabilitation as being moderate at best.”

Justice Riley said Mamarika’s conduct had a negative impact on the wider Bickerton community as it would make it harder to attract workers for community projects.

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“This was an impulsive act and not planned, although you did take time to arm yourself with the machete,” he said.

“Your victims did not suffer any actual harm, although they were obviously and understandably very concerned for their safety.”

Justice Riley ordered the sentence be suspended in November to give Mamarika a “final chance” at rehabilitation for his drug problem.