A MAN who held up a Bathurst pharmacy at knifepoint said that at the time of the crime he had no support, wasn’t coping and just “wanted to go back to jail”.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Lawrence Trindall’s sad story was laid bare in the Bathurst District Court last Thursday when he was sentenced for the crime.
Trindall, 26, was fresh out of custody and high on drugs when he held up Blooms Chemist in March this year.
In sentencing, Judge O’Connor heard details of Trindall’s life, which was described as “a devastating picture of abuse and abandonment”.
Both his parents were just teenagers when Trindall was born, the court heard. They were unemployed drug users and his father was in and out of prison.
His dad was often drunk and violent towards Trindall’s mother, the court heard, and eventually tried to drown her. He was charged with her attempted murder and later took his own life in custody.
After this, Trindall’s mum deteriorated and was unable to care for either him or his sister and they were handed over to his grandmother - the only person, the court heard, who ever cared what happened to him.
Trindall said his mother cared more about drugs than him and his grandmother provided the only stable environment he had ever known.
The court heard since his first incarceration six years ago, Trindall has been in and out of jail and spent just a brief time back in the community.
In the days leading up to the armed robbery, Trindall had been using ice and was homeless.
He had been paroled to his grandmother’s address but when he got there found the property locked up and empty. His nan, unknown to him, had been placed into care.
He told the court he tried to get some support and was given three nights at a hotel.
“I didn’t care what happened. At the time, it was easier to be in jail,” he said.
“I had nowhere to go … I went into a bad depression, I wanted to kill myself. I just couldn’t cope when I got out, no one was helping me.”
READ ALSO: Western Advocate court and crime reports
Trindall said he was stressed out and started using even heavier drugs than he would normally take.
He said he didn’t want to deal with anything and just wanted to go back to jail.
Now back in custody, Trindall says he wants to go into rehabilitation.
“I want the system to help me,” he said, adding he was sorry for what happened.
“I want to learn life skills before I get released back into the community.”
When the Crown put to him that Community Corrections had tried to help him on release, he said it was “too much to handle.”
When asked how it would be different next time he’s released from prison, he said he “wanted to go to rehab, learn life skills and learn how to cope”.
For help
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- Mensline Australia: 1300 78 99 78
- Kids’ Helpline: 1800 55 1800
- Beyondblue: 1300 22 46 36