Fake gun in escort robbery
A MAN held up a private escort at her home with a fake gun after finding her details in a newspaper advertisement, a court heard.
Lex Garry Power, 31, of Bundaberg, was high on speed the night he went to the woman's home while she was eating dinner.
"She answered a knock at the door (and Power told her): 'I've got a gun and I want $50 right now, otherwise I will shoot you'," prosecutor Sarah Dennis said.
"He showed her an item in his hand - it was small and black and she was fearful it was a gun.
"It turned out the defendant was in possession of a small black water pistol."
Power went into the house while the woman pretended to search for money she knew she did not have and, during that time, he stole her mobile phone and walked outside.
Seizing the chance, the woman locked the doors and windows, which infuriated Power, who went on to smash a window and a door in an attempt to get back inside.
The woman pretended to make a phone call to the police but, undeterred, Power went into her car and stole CDs and an ashtray before finally leaving.
Police managed to track down Power after realising he had contacted the woman earlier in the day.
"He was motivated by a need for drugs," Ms Dennis said.
"He was using about $100 of illicit drugs each week, and more if he had the money."
The prosecutor said Power's actions had frightened his victim so much that she had fled the state.
"(He is) deeply ashamed and disgusted by what he's done," defence barrister Julie Sharp said of her client.
The barrister said while Power had obviously planned the attack by sending the woman a text message earlier in the day, "the planning occurred during an irrational drug-induced state of mind".
Power pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery, burglary and stealing, wilful damage and entering a premises and stealing, all on November 11 last year.
The court was told Power had not yet spent any time in custody for the offences and had only a minor criminal history.
Judge Douglas McGill sentenced Power to three years jail for the attempted armed robbery and other varying terms of imprisonment for the other three charges, all of which will be served concurrently.
He will be released on bail on November 21 this year after serving eight months in jail.
