Cory Abbott jailed over “frightening” Norlane carjacking

An institutionalised crook shot by police has learned his fate over the “frightening” theft of a 75-year-old grandfather’s car, as his dysfunctional upbringing was laid bare in court.

Cory Abbott was sentenced to more than eight years jail over a Norlane carjacking in 2023. Picture: Facebook

A crook who stole a 75-year-old grandfather’s car at gunpoint had spent most of his adult life in jail, a court has heard.

Cory Abbott, 38, appeared in the County Court at Melbourne on Thursday, via videolink from Barwon Prison’s Banksia unit, for sentencing by judge Daniel Holding.

Abbott had previously pleaded guilty last month to aggravated carjacking, using a firearm as a prohibited person, driving while disqualified and two counts of common law assault after receiving a sentencing indication from Judge Holding.

Abbott was convicted on all charges and jailed for eight years and one month, with a non-parole period of six years and one month.

On February 17, 2023, Abbott was riding a bicycle along Iona St in Norlane, when he pulled up alongside a car driven by 75-year-old Gary Bulmer.

The two spoke briefly, before Abbott reached through the driver’s side window and took the keys from the ignition.
A struggle ensured, until Abbott pulled out a homemade gun and told Mr Bulmer: “I will shoot you, I’m not bluffing” before making off with the car.

Police at the scene in Warrawee Ave.

Mr Bulmer made no victim impact statement, Judge Holding said, but his family reported him as “having lost faith in the system” upon being left with no car and no phone. .

Judge Holding said he was satisfied the incident was “extremely distressing and frightening” for the grandfather.

When police came upon the stolen car in Warrawee Ave a short time later, Abbott became “animated and frantic” and pointed the gun at them after his escape was blocked.

He was shot multiple times and was later flown to hospital.

Judge Holding told the court the officers involved were left “understandably traumatised”.

The court heard Abbott, who has an intellectual disability, was raised in Geelong by an alcoholic and violent father and only received a year seven education.

He began abusing alcohol at the age of 12, before moving on to harder substances.

Abbott told a psychologist his offending was due to his drug use and “hanging around the wrong people all (his) life”.

At the time of the shooting, Abbott was coming down from ice and only has a vague memory of what happened.

The court heard he was experiencing paranoia and took the car because he needed to “get out of the area”, the court heard.

Abbott has been “institutionalised” and spent most of his adult life behind bars, except for a total period of “three years and three months”, the court heard.

He has convictions for armed robbery, recklessly causing serious injury, assault, burglary, theft, arson, weapons charges and traffic offences.

Judge Holding accepted Abbott’s “dysfunctional” upbringing undoubtedly influenced his criminality

While it mitigated his offending somewhat, Judge Holding said Abbott had “bleak” prospects for rehabilitation.

He has already spent 455 days in jail, reckoned as time served.

Originally published as Cory Abbott jailed over “frightening” Norlane carjacking