Henry Thomas William Darr pleaded guilty to attempted robbery over failed buggy heist

A father of two claimed he played for the North Queensland Cowboys as he threatened to ‘flog’ and ‘bash’ a security guard for his buggy at a major shopping centre.

A father of two claimed he played for the North Queensland Cowboys as he threatened to bash a security guard while trying to steal his buggy, in what he later labelled a drunken joke.

The 41 year old had been hanging around the carpark near Coles at Caneland Central with others when the attempted robbery happened in the early hours of April 4, 2020.

A security guard and a street cleaner spotted Henry Thomas William Darr and the others playing with a fire hose and the guard told them to stop, Mackay District Court heard.

As the guard walked away, Darr and a co-accused followed asking if they could steal his buggy.

Darr even got into the buggy and made threats “to try and steal it”.

Henry Thomas William Darr leaves Mackay courthouse after pleading guilty in the district court to attempted robbery at Caneland Central. Photo: Janessa Ekert

“He said, give me the keys or I’m gonna knock you out, repeatedly and threatened to smash the (victim) to the ground,” Crown prosecutor Samantha O’Rourke told the court.

The guard kept trying to walk away, but Darr and his co-accused followed.

“Again (Darr) threatened the guard saying, I’ve played for the North Queensland Cowboys, I will flog you and bash your head in,” Ms O’Rourke said.

The court heard Darr’s co-accused then assaulted the street cleaner before both he and the guard ran away – Darr had nothing to do with the assault.

Darr followed, yelling for them to come back and tried to open the door to a Coles trolley carrier where the pair had taken refuge.

When police found him the next day, he initially denied any involvement before telling officers “he was drunk and he couldn’t remember, but it was a joke and he was being a smart ass”.

Henry Thomas William Darr told police he was drunk and being a smart ass. Photo: Janessa Ekert

Darr pleaded guilty to attempted robbery in company and using threats of violence, and attempted enter premises.

The court heard the maximum penalty was 14 years jail for attempted robbery and Ms O’Rourke said it was open for Darr to serve actual time in jail.

However Judge Tony Moynihan said it was open that he did not go to jail, adding there were two differences between Darr and his co-offender, who received 12 months with immediate parole.

“Your co-offender had a much more serious criminal history and he did actual violence during the course of the offending,” Judge Moynihan said.

The court heard Darr had a limited and dated criminal history.

“Even though there has been a serious offence committed by my client, the nature of the offence and his personal circumstances would leave it open to … a sentence that does not (have) him serve a short period of actual custody at this time in his life,” defence barrister Matt Heelan said.

Darr was working as a mine operator – he and partner and children, who lived in New South Wales, planned to relocate to Airlie Beach for a fresh start.

“You have expressed remorse and shame at your conduct,” Judge Moynihan said.

Darr was jailed for 18 months, wholly suspended for 2.5 years. Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Henry Thomas William Darr pleaded guilty to attempted robbery over failed buggy heist