THE Adelaide man who threatened a Millicent service station staff member with a knife before taking cash to buy drugs and play the pokies has been imprisoned.
However, he has refused to identify his alleged co-offender.
Zachary Gartside, 21, recently appeared before the Adelaide District Court and pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated robbery.
Around 5.30pm on October 7, 2018 the defendant and an accomplice were driving in Millicent when they stopped outside the gates behind Caltex on Billy Goat corner.
The court heard the pair exited the vehicle and stood near the service station’s ice machine while the car engine was left running.
Gartside’s accomplice approached the staff member at the counter and told him he wanted money from the till as Gartside held the sliding door open and also demanded money from the safe.
The pair were both wearing hoods and balaclavas and were carrying knives.
The cash drawer from the till, which contained just over $600 cash, was passed onto the co-offender before the pair fled the scene in the vehicle they had left outside.
Police located the vehicle later the same morning in Millicent.
Almost two weeks later, a black hooded top, balaclava, folding knife and the cash drawers were found dumped in a vacant block.
Gartside’s DNA matched a fingerprint left on the petrol station’s sliding door, as well as that found on the balaclava.
He was arrested on October 28 and has remained in custody since his arrest.
Judge Liesl Chapman said when speaking to police Gartside made full and frank admissions to robbing the service station.
“You said you committed the robbery so you could get money to buy drugs,” she said.
“You spent the money at the pokies in Mount Gambier and on drugs on the day of your offending.
“You were not prepared to name your co-offender.”
“The motivation for your offending on this morning has been confirmed by your counsel this morning, namely a drug addiction and a gambling problem at that time.”
Gartside’s lengthy criminal history includes charges for assault, drug trafficking, possessing equipment to use with controlled drugs, carrying an offensive weapon, firearm and breaching bail offences.
Judge Chapman said she hoped Gartside would take up any opportunity that is made available to him in jail and when he was released on parole.
“I am prepared to set a lower than usual non-parole period in order to give you that hope and also make sure that you do have a longer usual period in the community on supervision,” she said.
Gartside was sentenced to six years imprisonment for the aggravated robbery, which was reduced to three years, seven months and seven days with a non-parole period of one year and seven days following his guilty plea.
The sentence was backdated to start from October 28.
