Young man jailed for seven years on robbery, trafficking

A 22-YEAR-OLD man will have to rely on the Parole Board to be released from prison after he was jailed for seven years by a Toowoomba court.

The 22-year-old was jailed for seven years by Toowoomba Supreme Court Justice Callaghan.

A 22-YEAR-OLD man will be at the mercy of the Parole Board as to when he is released from prison after he was jailed for seven years by a Toowoomba court.

Brandon James Morgan and a co-accused had ambushed a man and his mate as they returned home after withdrawing $800 from a Gatton bank on September 9 last year.

As the pair approached demanding the money, Morgan had held up a 30cm hunting knife in the victim's face who back away, Toowoomba Supreme Court heard.

During the ensuing altercation, Morgan had swiped the man's hat with the knife before the victim grabbed the blade, cutting his hand, Crown prosecutor Mark Green told the court.

The victim went to run off but fell to the ground and the two assailants stood over him demanding the money.
When the victim stood up, Morgan had stabbed him in the shoulder.

The victim ran off only to fall again and dislodge the wallet which he threw at his assailants and Morgan had taken the cash from the wallet and then threw the empty wallet back to the victim.

After being treated at the scene, the victim was taken by ambulance to Toowoomba Hospital where his wound was washed and closed, Mr Green said.

The court heard Morgan's co-offender had been sentenced to three years jail by an Ipswich court this week.

Morgan pleaded guilty to armed robbery in company with wounding as well as to possessing 6.977g of crystal meth which was analysed at 76.2% pure, or having a pure meth weight of 5.316g, as well as having 60g of cannabis, all drugs found during a police search of his home on November 1, last year.

Morgan also pleaded guilty to trafficking in dangerous drugs over 36 days from September 26 last year.

The court heard Morgan was on parole and a suspended sentence at the time of the offences.

Justice Peter Callaghan noted Morgan had spent 10 months in custody before sentence but told him the attack on the victim had been "cowardly".

For the armed robbery Morgan was sentenced to four years in jail and for trafficking drugs, 3 years in jail, the terms to be served cumulatively.

However, declaring 163 days pre-sentence custody as time served and noting his youth, Justice Callaghan ordered Morgan be eligible to apply for release on parole as of June 30 next year.

Originally published as Young man jailed for seven years on robbery, trafficking