A remorseful robber was sentenced to more than six years in prison for his involvement in an incident that ended in a daylight shooting.

Grayson Swan, 23, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a robbery that took place outside The Hub on Middle Road, Warwick, on May 8, 2020.

Puisne Judge Juan Wolffe said he believed Swan’s expressions of regret and remorse and noted that he would have the opportunity to better himself and use his time behind bars wisely.

“I want you to remember that day, what happened and how it changed the trajectory of your life, how it affected you and also your family,” he said.

“Look at it, learn from it and become a better man.”

Mr Justice Wolffe sentenced Swan to 6½ years, with time already served taken into account.

Swan was originally charged along with two other men with the robbery, which took place in the afternoon of May 8, 2020.

The court previously heard that the victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had gone to The Hub on Middle Road in Warwick with his young son.

A car then arrived at the scene, driven by Daneko Cann-Hayward, with Swan and another suspect inside, and the latter two men approached the victim.

The court heard that Swan attempted to grab the necklace when the victim, who had a knife in his possession, attempted to stab him.

As the struggle continued, the second suspect produced a handgun and fired three shots, one of which struck the victim’s chest.

While Swan fled the area on foot, the gunman got back into the car with Cann-Hayward and was driven away from the scene.

The victim was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for treatment to his injury.

Marc Daniels, counsel for Swan, told the court that while drinking he had been told that the victim in the case had stolen a chain from a friend and went to retrieve it from him.

Mr Daniels said that when Swan approached the victim, he realised that the victim was with his young son and attempted to unhook the chain and run.

“It wasn’t a snatch,” Mr Daniels said. “He was trying to unlatch it.”

He said that Swan’s intention of a “Robin Hood-esque” good act quickly turned sour.

Mr Daniels said that Swan ran away with the necklace and continued to run when he heard gunshots behind him.

“All of this could have been avoided if young people simply called the police and said I understand there’s some stolen items on this person,” Mr Daniels said.

Adley Duncan, for the Crown, said that a social inquiry report on Swan was “glowing” and noted that Swan had pleaded guilty and had no previous convictions.

While he said the offence was a serious one and was carried out in front of the victim’s young child, in the circumstances it would not be unreasonable to give him a similar sentence to the 6½ years handed down to Cann-Hayward for his role in the crime.

Swan apologised to the court and his family and said that he deeply regretted his actions and the physical and emotional harm they had caused the victim and his family.

“I’m embarrassed to be here in orange right now,” he told his family. “I know that since then I have changed a lot. I have been through a lot.

“There are no words I could ever put together to express how deeply sorry I am to have put you through this but I promise you will never be sat in this court again.”

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