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Camera IconPortrait of bride and groom by church Credit: Supplied/Getty Images/Pixland

Car-jacking ends in court

Staff ReporterNorth Coast Times

In handing down the sentence on March 5, Justice Stephen Hall said Andrew Jon Dullaghan (31) would be eligible for parole halfway through his sentence.

Justice Hall said the armed robbery, which occurred late morning on October 22, 2012, in the car park at Ocean Keys Shopping Centre was a serious offence that involved some level of pre-planning.

On that day, Dullaghan, along with a 16-year-old boy who received a 12-month prison sentence last year, approached a woman after she loaded her shopping into her car about 11.10am.

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‘She observed you approaching and attempted to close the door,’ Justice Hall said.

‘You then placed your hands inside the door and wrestled to open it as she attempted to close it.

‘You said words to the effect, ‘Get out of the car or I will kill you’.

‘You opened the jacket you were wearing and produced what appeared to the complainant to be a black handgun holding it in your left hand and pointing it at her.’

The woman got out of her car and Dullaghan got into the driver’s seat, while the boy climbed into a back passenger seat and they drove off.

Police cadets found Dullaghan driving the stolen vehicle on Wanneroo Road in Warwick about 9pm the same day and found a replica firearm in the glove box.

‘Your explanation for the armed robbery is that you were bored and had taken some drugs that day,’ Justice Hall said.

‘At the time of the armed robbery offence you were under the influence of a product called bath salt, which I am told is a synthetic version of an amphetamine-like substance.’

Although Dullaghan had a history of substance abuse, Justice Hall said he had shown signs of addressing his drug issues since his arrest so he would be eligible for parole for 25 per cent of the sentence.

The parole period was extended in light of a confidential letter that said Dullaghan had assisted the police in the past and indicated he would cooperate with them in the future. His overall sentence was reduced by 14 months.

Dullaghan’s 21-month prison sentence, backdated to start on October 23, includes 18 months for the armed robbery.