The son of a pro-gun political party's founder has been jailed for a spree of "incompetent but serious" attempted armed robbery offences and a ram-raid.
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Jamie Ronald Madden pleaded guilty on Monday in Brisbane District Court to eight charges including attempted armed robbery with an imitation firearm, two attempted robberies and attempted break-in.
The 33-year-old son of Love Australia or Leave Party founder Kim Vuga also pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving while escaping police.
Madden's sentencing was part-heard in February before being adjourned to obtain a psychological report.
Crown Prosecutor Blake Crook said at the time that Madden was on parole for a seven-year sentence and had been ordered to return to custody just prior to the start of his offending on Apri 14, 2023.
"(Madden) engaged in a very serious crime spree over the course of four days," Mr Crook said.
Madden broke into a premises at Southport on the Gold Coast to get the keys to a vehicle and the next day at 6am entered two shops at Deception Bay, north of Brisbane, and attempted to rob three people of their car keys.
"He said he was on the run from police and threatened to shoot each of them," Mr Cook said.
Madden punched a cafe owner in the face after he told him he did not have car keys and brandished a home-made imitation firearm while trying to rob other people.
Police officers that evening confronted Madden and he stuck their vehicle with his car before speeding away.
Madden later returned to the Deception Bay shopping centre and tried to cut into an ATM using a blowtorch before driving directly at two police cars and an officer on foot in an effort to escape.
He was arrested the next morning after trying to ram his vehicle through the door of a gun shop.
Defence barrister Matthew Hynes said Madden had made candid admissions of having used drugs after his last court appearance in February but had been abstinent since then.
"He has been teaching metalwork to other prisoners using a welder. He has been given a trusted position," Mr Hynes said.
Mr Hynes said Madden had been in a state of drug-related paranoia at the time of offending.
Madden told Judge Vicki Loury that he had pre-paid for community drug rehabilitation that would start when he was released.
"These were rather incompetent examples of attempted robberies but were nevertheless serious offences," Judge Loury said.
Madden had terrorised people and the cafe owner he attacked later sold his business at a below market price because he had lost his passion for hospitality, she said.
Madden was sentenced to four-and-a-half years' imprisonment, to be served cumulatively with his prior seven-year sentence as he had offended while on parole.
He will be eligible for parole in April 2025.
Madden's partner and mother both attended the sentencing and he spoke briefly to them as he was taken back into custody.
Australian Associated Press
