By ALESHA CAPONE
A YOUTH who bashed and robbed a man in Altona Meadows has been sentenced to more than two years’ imprisonment.
County Court of Victoria Judge Joe Gullaci sentenced Mohamed Zoghaib to 18 month’s imprisonment for robbery, eight months for recklessly causing injury and four months for theft.
Judge Gullaci said the “total effective sentence” would be 22 months with a minimum term of seven months before Mr Zoghaib would be eligible for parole.
Mr Zoghaib pleaded guilty to a January 2011offence during which he and another male attacked and threatened their victim, before stealing his possessions and money.
Judge Gullaci said the victim still felt scared to go out, had severe panic attacks and trouble sleeping, struggles to hold down a permanent job and “feels traumatised by a knife being held to his throat”.
The victim met a female friend of Mr Zoghaib during a 2010 New Year’s Eve celebration at Etihad Stadium and exchanged telephone numbers with her.
Later in January, the victim visited AB Shaw Reserve in Altona Meadows with the woman, where Mr Zoghaib and another man carried out the attack.
Mr Zoghaib’s companion opened the victim’s car door, punched him in the face and pulled him out of the vehicle by his legs.
While the victim was in a headlock, Mr Zoghaib punched him in the face.
The other man pulled out two knives, and Mr Zoghaib took the victim’s i-phone, sub-woofer and ATM card.
Mr Zoghaib then photographed the victim’s driver’s licence.
“You told the complainant, ‘We are going to take out the money but if you try a runner or anything we have got your address’,” Judge Gullaci said.
Afterwards, Mr Zoghaib and the other offender drove to Altona Central Square Shopping Centre where they withdrew $290 from the victim’s account.
At the time of the court hearing into the matter, Mr Zoghaib was facing a community corrections order related to driving offences, thefts, handling stolen goods and deception.
“The sentence of the court must be one that deters you from offending in a similar manner again in the future,” Judge Gullaci said
