Accused bottle-shop robber allegedly threatened to 'come back' for staff

A teenager has been granted bail after he was accused of a liquor store robbery, in which he allegedly assaulted a staff member and threatened to “come back” for them.

A staff member was working at the Auzi Liquor Bottler in Greenway at around 8:30 pm on Wednesday (7 August) when 18-year-old Bailey Campbell entered the store with another unknown man, court documents allege.

It is alleged the pair took a 24-pack of Hard Rated Solo cans from the cool room and then tried to leave the store without paying.

The staff member asked the pair to stop and pay, but they allegedly refused. When the staff member tried to grab the cans, Mr Campbell allegedly punched him at least three times in the head and chest.

“I will come back for you,” Mr Campbell allegedly told him.

The pair left and the staff member contacted police.

Officers went to Mr Campbell’s home in Bonython later that same night and arrested him in his bedroom. They found a bag of Hard Rated Solo cans beside his bed.

Mr Campbell faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday (8 August) where he was handed a charge of robbery and applied for bail.

The prosecutor, who opposed bail, alleged it had been “very serious offending”, shown by how the charge’s maximum penalty was 25 years in jail.

She alleged Mr Campbell resorted to violence when stopped by the staff member and had threatened to “come back for him”.

His defence lawyer, Legal Aid’s Sarah Higgs, said her client was a very young man, was looking for work and was supported by his family in the courtroom.

She argued that bail conditions could mitigate the risks of him being in the community, and based on the allegations, it seemed he did not know who the staff member was.

Special Magistrate Rebecca Christensen SC said Mr Campbell was accused of entering the store, stealing alcohol and the matter involved “aspects of alleged violence”.

She said that, as he had no prior criminal convictions and had protective factors in the form of his family, she was satisfied that bail conditions could ameliorate the risks of his release.

Bail was granted with conditions including he not drink alcohol and not contact the staff member or go near the liquor store.

The matter was adjourned to 29 August. No plea was entered.