Bank robber recognised as customer: court

A man who tried to rob a bank was thwarted when he was recognised as a regular customer, a court has heard.

Natan Jon Southee, 42, demanded cash as he brandished a test tube full of red liquid at a teller at the National Australia Bank in Brisbane’s CBD.

The Brisbane District Court heard on Wednesday the woman recognised Southee as a regular customer and asked him to confirm his name and address, which he did.

Southee fled when the teller activated the alarm.

Prosecutor Ben Power told the court the incident was the first in a string of offences on August 2 last year, in which Southee robbed an Optus store and repeatedly threatened a cab driver before stealing his taxi.

Mr Power said Southee was arrested that afternoon after police followed the cab’s GPS tracker.

The court heard Southee had taken drugs prior to his crime spree and was in a state of psychosis.

He pleaded guilty to eight charges including armed robbery, deprivation of liberty, and threatening violence.

Southee, who has an extensive history of violent offences, was sentenced to six years’ jail. He will be eligible for parole in August next year.

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