The WA Supreme Court.
Camera IconThe WA Supreme Court. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Perth man sentenced to three years over Macca’s inside job

AAPJoondalup Times

A fast food employee who staged an armed robbery at a Perth McDonald’s with a friend has been sentenced to more than three years in jail.

It netted Patrick Francis Egan and a mate about $5000, but it also got them sentenced to more than three years in a West Australian prison.

Egan, 29, was working at the Beldon eatery in April last year when he and Kyle John Cox concocted the crime, the WA Supreme Court heard on Thursday.

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At about 3am, Egan sent a message to Cox, who then entered the store through the back door armed with a knife.

Cox held the knife against Egan under the guise of taking him hostage, then the pair approached the store manager who was counting money at the cash register.

No one was hurt during the armed robbery and the pair stole $5104, the court heard.

Egan later gave a false statement to police but the men were eventually caught.

The court heard the pair had different versions of events, with both claiming it was the other who had a drug debt they wanted to settle.

Justice Joseph McGrath said regardless the men were equally culpable of the crime.

As an employee of the store, Egan had committed a breach of trust and should have understood the vulnerability of the victim, Justice McGrath said.

But he acknowledged Egan had written a letter of apology, and accepted Egan was remorseful and had good prospects for rehabilitation.

Egan, who pleaded guilty to aggravated armed robbery, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.

He must serve at least 21 months behind bars before he can be eligible for parole.

Cox was sentenced in July to the same prison term.