A WARRNAMBOOL criminal who held a gun to a woman’s head during a brazen daylight carjacking in Melbourne has been jailed.
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Judge Richard Maidment imprisoned Warrnambool’s Robert Barden, 34, and co-offenders Leigh McElroy, 36, and Robert Wallace, 36, for the "outrageous" crime that he said had the ability to send a shiver down the spine of every motorist.
The County Court heard on Wednesday the drug addicts were cruising in a stolen car, looking to make money to buy more drugs when they targeted Theresa McLeod on the afternoon of July 25, 2015.
They followed her Holden Commodore into the IGA car park at Pascoe Vale, waited for the kindergarten teacher to return with her shopping, and then threatened her with a gun so she would hand her keys over.
The trio stole her $40,000 car and sought to negotiate its sale on the black market for half a bag of ice and $3000, the court was told.
The vehicle hasn't been recovered.
Ms McLeod said the events left her feeling scared, unsafe and anxious.
She was unable to sleep for months because documents containing her name and address were in the car.
"The events of that day changed not only my life but the life of my family in ways that cannot be undone," she said in her victim statement.
"I have traumatic flashbacks and dreams where I have a gun pointed at my head.
"I can no longer go to the IGA. I get the shakes when I go past it."
Judge Maidment said the assault was particularly bold, given it occurred in broad daylight.
"It was an outrageous assault on the rights of another human being (to be) going about their normal daily activities without fear of being threatened with the prospect of death or serious injury by a group of thugs armed with a firearm," he said.
McElroy and Wallace were found guilty of armed robbery by a jury while Barden pleaded guilty and received a discount in sentencing.
McElroy was jailed for five years and nine months, with a minimum of three years and 10 months.
Wallace was jailed for seven years with a minimum of four years and nine months, while Barden was sentenced to five years and four months with a minimum of three-and-a-half-years.
The trio all have prior court appearances and had issues with drug addiction.
