Tattoo shop owner on robbery charges | Northern Rivers Crime | Robberies, Assaults and Convictions in Northern Rivers

Helen Jack | 21st October 2008

IT BEGAN as a debt-collecting mission and ended with an alleged armed robbery and a burnt-out car.

Jason James Beilby, 33, of Goonellabah, and Shaune Charles Stanley Harty, 44, of East Ballina, were arrested on Sunday and charged with robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon, armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, damaging property by fire and stealing a motor vehicle.

They were refused bail in Lismore Local Court yesterday.

Beilby, who owns a tattoo shop in the Star Court Arcade in Lismore, is also charged with driving while disqualified, using an unregistered vehicle, and driving an uninsured vehicle. Harty, who did not apply for bail, is also charged with using a prohibited weapon without a permit.

Police allege the pair drove to Casino to recover $100 from the victim, the price of two tattoos he received from Beilby.

It is alleged Harty threatened the victim with a ball hammer.

Later Beilby and Harty allegedly followed the victim as he drove from the scene, with Beilby allegedly pointing a loaded .38 calibre pistol at him when they stopped.

Beilby alleges he saw the spark of the tazar gun held by the victim flash towards the car.

The victim allegedly left his car and returned home, with Harty taking the car and driving it to Caniaba, with Beilby following.

Police later found the victim's car burnt out.

Beilby's defence solicitor, Ralph James, applied for bail on behalf of his client on the grounds he was in a stable relationship, was the sole proprietor of his tattoo business, and his partner was willing to put up her house as surety for his bail.

Mr James said police facts tendered to the court on Monday did not mention the tazar.

Police prosecutor Gary Ducasse, who opposed bail and tendered updated police facts, said in the past Beilby had breached bail and community service orders in NSW and a suspended sentence in Queensland.

In refusing bail Magistrate Nick Reimer said it was an extremely serious matter.

“It is incredible that this whole escapade arose out of a debt for a service,” he said.

Mr Reimer remanded Beilby and Harty in custody and ordered briefs be served for reply on November 4.

• Daily newspapers
• Bundaberg News-Mail
• Coffs Coast Advocate
• Fraser Coast Chronicle
• Gladstone Observer
• Grafton Daily Examiner
• Gympie Times
• Ipswich Queensland Times
• Lismore Northern Star
• Mackay Daily Mercury
• Rockhampton Morning Bulletin
• Sunshine Coast Daily
• Toowoomba Chronicle
• Tweed Daily News
• Warwick Daily News
• Community newspapers
• Ballina Shire Advocate
• Biloela Central Telegraph
• Byron Shire News
• Coolum & North Shore News
• East-Ipswich Satellite
• Emerald Central Queensland News
• Gatton Star
• Gold Coast Mail
• Ipswich Advertiser
• Logan Reporter
• Noosa News
• The Northern Rivers Echo
• Whitsunday Times
• Other publications
• Surat Basin News