Elliott accepts consequences

Terrence James Elliott, 28, is taking the rap for his mate.

File

TERRENCE Elliott is willing to go to prison to protect a mate.

In fact he’s been in prison since August last year refusing to cooperate with police.

Police say the 28-year-old threatened a chemist worker with a knife when attempting to rob a Rockhampton store on August 21 last year.

He allegedly cut the phone line a female staff member was talking on and lunged at another woman with the knife at a Cambridge Street chemist.

He wanted prescription medication.

Yesterday in the District Court at Rockhampton Elliott pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery and wilful damage.

But during the case it was revealed that Elliott only claimed to be the get-away-driver not the actual offender.

Because he won’t reveal who he says was the actual robber he asked to be sentenced on the basis he knew exactly what his mate was going to do.

Judge David Searles refused to proceed and said a contested facts hearing needed to be set.

“He can’t say I didn’t do it but fix me up for it anyway,” he said.

“He is to be punished for what he’s actually guilty of. I won’t proceed on facts that might not be the case.”

Defence barrister Tom Polley said Elliott accepted responsibility for what happened and was equally responsible for the crime.

Mr Polley said Elliott had recently moved to Rockhampton from Victoria.

He said it was a case of “old habits die hard” and he fell back into a downwards spiral of drugs.

“He was seeking morphine and fell into bad company,” he said.

Mr Polley said Elliott’s drug problem resurfaced in 2008 after the death of his sister.

He had previously been jailed for a long list of crimes that were committed to support his drug habit.

Prosecutor Carly Whelan said the crown stood by the facts that Elliott was the sole person involved in the attempted armed robbery. She said there was no evidence of a co-offender.

The case has been adjourned back to the call over list and Elliott will remain in custody.