Ishmael Freddy Birchley, 33, sentenced for armed robbery

A man, labelled “a danger to anyone in his orbit”, has been sentenced for his part in an armed robbery of a bottle shop where a knife was held to an 18-year-old employee.

A man, labelled “a danger to anyone in his orbit”, has been sentenced for his part in an armed robbery of a bottle shop where a knife was held to an 18-year-old employee.

A man labelled “a danger to anyone around him” has been sentenced for his part in an armed robbery of a bottle shop where a knife was held to an 18-year-old employee.

Cairns man Ishamel Freddy Birchley pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery in company in Cairns District Court on May 29.

Police prosecutor Kurt Macdonald told the court the man entered a local liquor store where a knife was held towards an 18-year-old shop attendant as Birchley and three other large men “nonchalantly” carried off cartons of pre-mixed drinks from the cool room.

CCTV footage of the casual robbery was shown to the court with Birchley, wearing a bright floral shirt, making no attempt to hide his identity.

The footage clearly showed a co-accused 18-year-old holding the knife pointed at the employee who picks up a baseball bat for self-defence as he calls for help.

Mr Macdonald said the men stole more than $700 of alcohol before returning to the home they were drinking at and posing for photos with the exploits of their heist, “having a rather good time”, before they were located shortly after by police.

Mr Macdonald said the threat of violence as well as the number and size of the men was very concerning, with one of the men threatening “shut the f--k up or I’ll smash you”.

He said Birchley had a history of violence, a 62 entry criminal history, and was on parole at the time of the robbery.

“His history shows he is a violent man who is a danger to anyone around him in his orbit,” he said.

“There has been no headway to curbing his offending.”

Mr Macdonald referred to the “seven deadly sins”, describing Birchley’s offending as “gluttony and greed” stealing multiple cartons of alcohol, prideful in the way they posed for photos, and having a degree of sloth, telling the court, “He is happy to take from others, lazy and doesn’t want to work”.

Defence counsel James Sheridan conceded the robbery was brazen and unsophisticated.

“He was drinking with friends and relatives, he was intoxicated, and one of the boys discussed getting more alcohol and they made a plan to rob the store,” he said.

Mr Sheridan said Birchley had previously been employed under an apprenticeship with the Kowanyama Council but that had fallen through.

Judge Dean Morzone KC called the robbery “stunningly arrogant”.

“You don’t much care what our courts or society asks of you,” he told the man.

Birchley was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.

Originally published as Ishmael Freddy Birchley, 33, sentenced for armed robbery