Anthony Giampetrone pleads guilty to Newcomb armed robbery

A court has heard that the loss of several close friends and family and an addiction to prescription drugs led to a man holding up a convenience store with a knife.

Anthony Giampetrone leaves Geelong Law Courts.

A court has heard that the loss of several close friends and family and an addiction to prescription drugs led to a man with no prior convictions holding up a convenience store.

Anthony Giampetrone, 32, appeared in the County Court in Geelong on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to a single charge of armed robbery over the incident.

The court heard Giampetrone went to the Newcomb 7-Eleven on the Bellarine Highway in the early hours of February 1 this year.

After being let inside by the shop attendant just after 2.20am, Giampetrone walked around the aisles, picking out items while another customer was served.

Moments later, Giampetrone walked up and put the items on the counter, before pulling out a bread knife about 25-30cm long.

The court heard Giampetrone threatened to stab the attendant and repeatedly told him he needed money.

The attendant complied with Giampetrone’s demands, handing over cash from the till and a bag for the food items.

Giampetrone left the store with just over $100 in cash, the court heard, while the attendant activated the store’s emergency alarm.

The attendant spoke to police when they arrived but declined to provide a victim impact statement.

Police arrested Giampetrone later on February 1, and the court heard he made full admissions when interviewed and was remorseful.

Giampetrone’s defence lawyer, Bryony Seignior, told the court the crime was an “isolated act” and noted her client had no prior criminal convictions and a supporting family, with whom had been “open and honest” about what happened.

“It begs the question of what has occurred in the lead-up to this, that … might explain why we’re here,” she said.

The court heard that the death of Giampetrone’s closest friend in 2018 to suicide was a “turning point” in his life, and left him feeling “like (his) heart was ripped out of (his) chest”.

The tragedy was followed by the deaths of two uncles and his grandparents, while his father survived multiple heart attacks in the same period.

Giampetrone’s mental health deteriorated following the losses, and his dependency on prescription medication, including benzodiazepines, increased.

The court heard Giampetrone was first prescribed medication at 18, and developed an addiction, sourcing the medication from wherever he could and shopping around for doctors.

The court heard that while on bail following the robbery, Giampetrone had taken significant steps towards rehabilitation, Ms Seignior told the court, including treatment for his addiction and mental health.

Giampetrone made “no attempt at all” to conceal his identity during the robbery, Ms Seiginor said, and sending Giampetrone to prison would impact the progress he has made.

She argued that a punitive community corrections order (CCO) would be an appropriate sentence for a crime that was a lower level example of armed robbery.

Prosecutor Andrew Grant countered that some prison time was necessary, as armed robberies were “prevalent” and the concept of general deterrence was important.

Giampetrone will be sentenced on July 11.

Originally published as Anthony Giampetrone pleads guilty to Newcomb armed robbery