Jack Peter Willson in court for armed robbery

A meth-addicted criminal has been jailed for inflicting terror on Hervey Bay’s streets, pulling a fake pistol in a car jacking and ramming a 4WD. See what a judge had to say.

Jack Peter Willson pleaded guilty to six charges in Maryborough District Court on Wednesday.

An ex scrap metal industry worker who blamed his addiction to methamphetamines for a violent rampage while on parole where he put a fake gun to his victims’ heads has been sent to prison.

Jack Peter Willson, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of armed robbery and one count each of unlawful use of motor vehicles, fraud, dangerous operation of a vehicle and unlawful use of motor vehicle in Maryborough District Court on Wednesday.

While high on meth on April 15, 2023, Willson's night of chaos began when he held a fake pistol to the head of his first victim, forcing him out of a vehicle and driving away.

Later that night, he rammed a Mitsubishi Pajero which had stopped at the intersection of Stirling and Bay Drive in Urraween, causing about $800 in damage.

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Jack Peter Willson was sentenced in Maryborough District Court.

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Half an hour later police attempted to intercept him, but Willson escaped.

At 7am the following morning, an elderly man withdrawing money from an ATM was confronted by Willson who was still armed with the pistol and demanded he hand over the cash.

When the man refused, Willson punched him in the face and stole his car.

All of this occurred while he was on parole for a robbery that had occurred in 2017.

Crown Prosecutor Amy Stannard said Willson “has not complied with in any way with his parole restrictions” and his actions are “deplorable”.

Defence lawyer William Prizeman said substance abuse was an “underlying issue” in Willson’s offending.

Mr Prizeman said his client “ran a successful scrap metal business” before iron ore prices caused him to “fall off the wagon” and resume his meth addiction.

He told the court Willson’s “disadvantaged upbringing” led to him being in foster care by the age of one, homeless by 14 and meth-addicted by 18.

Judge Tony Moynihan sentenced him to five years’ prison on top of the two years he had left for the 2017 armed robbery, with parole set for February 1, 2025.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Jack Peter Willson in court for armed robbery