‘Violent nuisance’ jailed after stealing snack food and threatening staff, security
A MAN has been jailed after threatening a shop employee with a knife after he tried to stop him from stealing a bottle of soft drink
Police & Courts
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A MAN who robbed two Alice Springs businesses two days in a row has been “a violent nuisance for a number of years” whose crimes were becoming increasingly serious, a court has heard.
The man will spend the next few years behind bars after threatening a shop employee with a knife after he tried to stop him from stealing a bottle of soft drink.
Western Arrernte man Robert Malbunka, 31, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated robbery in the Supreme Court.
The court heard on January 14, 2020 Malbunka stole a bottle of soft drink from the Puma Service Station at 3.30am.
Malbunka ran out of the store and tripped over a speed bump. A store employee ran after him and went to pick up the drink when Malbunka held a knife, about 7cm long, to him.
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The following day, Malbunka stole a soft drink, dip and chips from Woolworths at Yeperenye Shopping Centre, with a value of $8.75.
A security guard, William Mut, followed Malbunka and told him to pay for the items.
Malbunka threatened to “smash” and “kill” Mr Mut, and swung the bottle of soft drink at him twice after he denied stealing the items.
Police saw this and found the dip in Malbunkas pocket after he tried to give the chips and drink to police, after telling them he had already paid for the three items.
The court heard Malbunka had a “long criminal history”.
Justice Judith Kelly said the value of the stolen items was trivial, but Malbunka’s records showed he had been “a violent nuisance for a number of years”.
“The offences you commit are getting more serious,” Justice Kelly said.
“The offending was unsophisticated and unplanned, and you were after food – albeit unhealthy snack food.”
She said a psychologist’s report revealed Malbunka had some cognitive impairment when it came to planning.
He was sentenced to three years’ jail.
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