Anthony Giampetrone sentenced for armed robbery at 7-Eleven in Newcomb

A Moolap man who robbed a convenience store will not have to spend any time in jail, a court has heard.

Anthony Giampetrone outside court in Geelong.

A Moolap man who was addicted to pills and a problem gambler will not have to spend any time in jail after robbing a convenience store in Newcomb.

Anthony Giampetrone was sentenced in the County Court in Geelong on Thursday after previously pleading guilty to armed robbery.

Giampetrone appeared in the dock wearing a suit and was visibly emotional throughout the duration of Judge Gavan Meredith’s remarks, sobbing for the majority of the hearing.

When Judge Meridith said he would not jail him, Giampetrone was overcome with emotion before being scolded by the judge.

“Pull yourself together will you, you are 33, not 15,” Judge Meredith said.

The court heard Giampetrone had a history of alcohol and cannabis abuse and was prescribed benzodiazepines by a doctor when he was 18.

“You developed a dependence on these and engaged in the abuse of these drugs,” Judge Meredith said.

“Your offending is contextualised on your dependence on benzodiazepines, gambling issues, and the fact you were living away from home,” he said.

In the early hours of the morning on February 1, Giampetrone was at a 7-Eleven in Newcomb when he pulled out a 25-30cm bread knife.

He threatened to stab the attendant and repeatedly told him he needed money.

The attendant complied, handing over cash from the till.

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

Judge Meredith said because Giampetrone had no previous criminal history and had already spent 30 days in jail for the offence, he would not impose a sentence of imprisonment.

“Having regard to the nature of circumstances of your offending, co-operation with police, early plea, family support and significant evidence of rehabilitation, I don’t propose sending you back to jail,” Judge Meredith said.

Giampetrone was sentenced to a community corrections order for two years.

Originally published as Anthony Giampetrone sentenced for armed robbery at 7-Eleven in Newcomb