William Laurence Lindsay, Trevor Herbert Rankine and Zachary Peter Woods sentenced for armed V Hotel robbery in 2019

Three men who smashed their way into a northern suburbs hotel in a planned attack to steal pokie winnings could walk from prison in 2026.

Three men who executed a “well planned” $13,000 armed robbery of a northern suburbs hotel’s pokie earnings that “terrorised” staff could be back on the streets in 2026.

William Laurence Lindsay, 43, Trevor Herbert Rankine, 47, and Zachary Peter Woods, 34, smashed through the door of the Virginia V Hotel on October 9, 2019 in a “confident” planned ambush.

Three staff members were closing the hotel for the night, counting pokie takings, when the trio armed with a gun and tire iron entered around 2am – perfectly timed with the counting.

Evidence photos show the damage to the hotel's front door. Picture: Supplied by Courts SA.

The trio smashed through the door to enter and exit the V Hotel on October 9, 2019. Picture: Supplied by Courts SA.

“The period of time where the cash was being removed and counted was clearly significant to the enterprise because it represented the time when the most cash was freely available and not secured …” Judge Emily Telfer said during sentencing on Friday.

The court heard close to $13,000 in earnings were taken – and a further volume of money was left behind as the group made their escape.

Judge Telfer said the impact their enterprise had on the hotel’s manager and two staff members was “devastating” – and the defendants would have known that.

“(The hotel’s manager) described the loss of feelings of personal safety … he has not been able to continue his work in hospitality and his career dreams will not be able to be realised,” Her Honour said.

“The staff member also described the devastating effects of your actions she has suffered from an overwhelming fear day to day … every part of her life has changed.

The court heard a plastic bin used to transport some of the money broke during the getaway, leaving one man empty handed. Picture: Supplied by Courts SA.

Cash from electronic teller machines and pokies was targeted during the “devastating” attack. Supplied by Courts SA.

“The devastation your conduct brought to each of your victims should come as no surprise to any of you.”

Judge Telfer said it was clear from the defendants long history of offending and contact with the courts that the impact of “serious” offences like this “would have brought home to you in no uncertain terms”.

The trio stood trial for aggravated robbery and attempted aggravated robbery before Judge Telfer.

Woods and Rankine were found guilty and Lindsay entered a guilty plea just before it began.

Lindsay was extended leniency due to a diagnosed learning disability and “impaired decision making” and sentenced him to seven and a half years.

The V Hotel on Old Port Wakefield Rd, Virginia, was robbed at gun point on October 9, 2019. Picture: AAP Image/Morgan Sette

His sentence was discounted due to his guilty plea, and time served, resulting in a head sentence of four years and five months, with two years nine months and 29 days non parole.

His sentence was backdated to October 14 2019 and he will be eligible for parole in June 2025.

Woods and Rankine were both sentenced to eight years imprisonment which was augmented to account for time served and on bail.

Woods’ sentence totalled to seven year, with five years, four months and 25 days non parole back dated to April 4, 2021 – meaning he will be eligible for parole in August 2026.

Rankine’s sentence totalled to four years and five months, with a two year, nine month non parole period back dated to December 7, 2023 – meaning he will be eligible for parole in October 2026.

Originally published as William Laurence Lindsay, Trevor Herbert Rankine and Zachary Peter Woods sentenced for armed V Hotel robbery in 2019