Amy-Lee Coller sentenced for role as getaway driver in Wasleys home invasions

A former real estate agent who now works at a local football club acted as a scout and getaway driver for two violent cannabis robberies, where victims were held at gunpoint, a court has heard.

A former real estate agent had “misguided loyalty” to her partner when she agreed to be the getaway driver for gunpoint robberies, a court has heard.

Amy-Lee Mae Coller, 31, avoided jail for her role in the violent home invasions, but one couple who were victims of the robberies said they now lived in fear.

Coller was sentenced in May but her details were suppressed until the conclusion of her four co-accuseds’ trial.

During Coller’s sentencing, the court heard several men committed two home invasions in Wasleys, 20km north of Gawler on March 29, 2020.

The court heard the first homeowner Geoffrey Bown was confronted by masked intruders around 3.30am and hit in the face with a firearm.

Amy-Lee Coller was sentenced for being the getaway driver in two home invasions. Photo: Facebook

Mr Bown’s partner, Catherine Hock was also threatened with a gun, while Mr Bown was forced outside, where his hands were tied behind his back.

He could hear the group attempting to cut out the marijuana plants he had growing behind his shed.

The court heard the group then moved next door to the home of Shaun Richards and his partner.

Mr Richards, who woke to his dog growling, retrieved a machete and struck one of the intruders with it, the court heard.

“That male yelled to the second male ‘just shoot him’,” Judge Michael Durrant said.

Mr Richards was kicked but managed to strike the man again with the machete, before the men fled.

The court heard Coller’s role was as a “scout” and driver but she didn’t enter the premises herself.

Coller, of Christies Beach, pleaded guilty to serious criminal trespass, attempted robbery, threatening to cause harm and false imprisonment.

Amy Coller in a picture posted to Facebook.

Amy Coller was sentenced to jail but it was suspended because of her drug rehabilitation efforts. Picture: Facebook

Victim impact statements were read to the Adelaide District Court.

Mr Bown and Ms Hock said their lives had been changed forever because of the offending and they lived in fear.

“I thought I was going to die, that my partner was going to die,” Ms Hock said.

The second victim, Mr Richards said he now couldn’t sleep more than four hours every night.

“All that I can say now is that if they come back, I can’t guarantee them safety,” he said.

Mr Richard’s partner said she couldn’t unsee the shotgun pointed at her, while the offenders were saying “shoot the dog, shoot the dog”.

“Blood was everywhere; it took me four days to clean it up. That is a smell I won’t forget,” she said.

The court heard Coller held a real estate certificate but now worked at a southern suburbs football club.

The court heard Coller, who had been a “heavy drug user” had completely turned her life around and was now a mother of two.

Judge Durrant sentenced Coller to three years and one month jail, with a non-parole period of one year and six months.

“You were a reluctant and uneasy participant in this offending,” he said.

“It resulted from a misguided loyalty to your abusive partner because drugs had also been a problem for you.”

Due to Coller’s rehabilitation efforts, the sentence was suspended on $1000, two-year good behaviour bond.