Joel Benjamin Andersen, a former professional lawn bowls player, narrowly avoided a prison sentence after robbing a service station and terrorizing a staff member, according to a court in Sunshine Coast. Andersen, now 26, had a promising career as a lawn bowler between the ages of 18 and 21, but his life spiraled downwards after spending time behind bars.
The court heard that on March 22, 2022, Andersen approached a server at a Buddina Coles Service Station at 2.40 am, slammed his wallet on the counter, and demanded all the money from the till. The employee complied, and Andersen left the store with the money and 30 packets of cigarettes.
Andersen was arrested at his home less than eight hours later, and the $120 and two packets of cigarettes were found in his wallet. The court was told that Andersen was in the grips of a “dual addiction” to gambling and alcohol at the time of the offence and had lost a lot of money at a nearby hotel before the robbery. Defense barrister Nathan Turner said his client was intoxicated at the time and did not intend to be violent.
Andersen pleaded guilty to one charge of robbery and was sentenced to two years and nine months behind bars, with the 137 days spent in presentence custody declared as time served. He was granted immediate parole, but a conviction was recorded.
Andersen had attempted to get himself into rehab since being released from custody, but he was not accepted into any facilities. The employee has since changed jobs.