Withcott man Luke Thomas Goldsworthy faces Toowoomba District Court for Helidon home invasion that saw 10 firearms stolen

When his attempt to purchase firearms illegally was rebuffed, a Withcott man hatched a scheme and orchestrated a violent home invasion to steal them, a court has been told.

In a targeted and premeditated home invasion, a Withcott man robbed a former friend at his Helidon address to steal firearms so they could be sold on the black market.

The victim was home alone on the night of November 23, 2021 when he was woken by the sound of car doors.

Looking outside the man saw two people in disguise come towards his home, Toowoomba District Court was told.

The man went to the back door of his home where he confronted a man armed with a baseball in a hoodie and balaclava, before he was struck in the legs and chased through the home.

After fleeing the property, the assailants managed to break into two gun safes, stealing 10 firearms, before fleeing the property.

Despite their attempts to disguise themselves, Crown prosecutor Shontelle Petrie said police were quick to have Luke Thomas Goldsworthy in their sights.

Luke Thomas Goldsworthy, 27, pleaded guilty to enter dwelling with intent by break at night while armed in company and armed robbery in Toowoomba District Court on June 21, 2022, for his involvement in a violent Helidon home invasion that saw 10 firearms stolen.

The court was told a few months prior the 27-year-old had asked the victim if he would sell one of his guns, and to report it stolen, but the offer was declined.

While one of the co-offenders had managed to cut the power to the home before the break-in, a neighbour’s CCTV system had captured the vehicle used by the assailants.

Ms Petrie said the vehicle used in the robbery was registered to the father of one of the co-offenders, with police locating the vehicle at a property where Goldsworthy’s ute was a day later, and a search of the premises located two of the stolen guns.

The remaining weapons, a mixture of shotguns, centerfire and rimfire rifles, remain unaccounted for.

In court on Tuesday Goldsworthy pleaded guilty to enter dwelling with intent by break while armed in company and armed robbery in company with personal violence.

Ms Petrie said due to the disguises used by the attacker it was unclear if Goldsworthy or his co-offender was the one armed with the baseball bat, but that he played a “significant role” in the planning and execution of the robbery.

Luke Thomas Goldsworthy, 27, pleaded guilty to enter dwelling with intent by break at night while armed in company and armed robbery in Toowoomba District Court on June 21, 2022, for his involvement in a violent Helidon home invasion that saw 10 firearms stolen.

The court was told messages uncovered during police investigations revealed the robbery was motivated for financial gain, with the weapons destined for the black market, and that is was “deeply troubling” the steps the group took to avoid detection, such as not using Goldsworthy’s ute as it would have been recognised by the victim.

Goldsworthy’s barrister Jessica Goldie said her client had been struggling with a drug addiction that had escalated out of control at the time of the offending.

Judge Michael Byrne QC said Goldsworthy was “obviously the organising force” in an offence where violence was anticipated, and “rudimentary, and ultimately futile” steps were taken to avoid detection.

Goldsworthy was jailed for six years, and with 203 days of pre-sentence custody declared as time served a parole eligibility date was set at November 29, 2023.