Police have arrested a female employee and regular patron of the Sydney Junction Hotel over a brazen armed robbery earlier this month that netted tens of thousands of dollars.
Around 3.40am, on Friday, 12 September workers at the Sydney Junction in Hamilton were in the process of closing up when an unknown man entered the premise wearing a Tina Turner-style wig and waving a gun.
Threatening staff, the man snatched a “significant amount” of cash before fleeing through the rear door and getting on an e-bike, ridden by another man who had been waiting.
Authorities were immediately called. There were no reports of any injuries during the robbery.
Newcastle City detectives, assisted by the robbery and serious crime squad, established a crime scene and began investigations. On the following Monday Strike Force Mesport released images taken from a security camera of two men they say “might be able to assist” with their enquiries.
Two days later investigators searched a storage unit in Newcastle West, where it is alleged they found and took into possession a bag containing just over $30K in cash.
During a second raid the same day, at a home in Hamilton, they are said to have seized an e-scooter and a helmet.
Police later arrested 46-year-old Christopher James Barsley, who is a regular patron of the hotel, and charged him with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence, as well as acquire firearm (subject to prohibition order). He appeared before Bail Division Court and was formally refused bail.
Shortly after midday the same day, 44-year-old gaming room supervisor Evie Grace was also arrested, at a home in New Lambton.
According to a police statement, they will allege in court that “the woman – an employee of the licensed premises who was working at the time of the incident – assisted in the incident”.
Grace was similarly charged with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence, and was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court.
Facing a magistrate on Saturday Grace was granted strict conditional bail.
Both defendants have had their cases adjourned until November.
