Jake Trewartha sentenced for role in brutal aggravated robbery at Moncrieff

A victim was struck, threatened and coerced into transferring thousands of dollars after armed men showed up at a house in Canberra to settle a drug debt.

Jake Trewartha leaves the ACT Law Courts on February 2 2023 after being sentenced for an aggravated burglary in Moncrieff. Trewartha has spent almost a year in jail on remand and was sentenced to a 27 month sentence, with the rest of his sentence to be suspended. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

The baseball bat-wielding man described as the “muscle” of a violent robbery in Canberra’s Gungahlin region has learnt his fate.

Jake John Trewartha fronted ACT Court for sentencing after he pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery over an August 2021 incident where he and four other people attempted to settle a drug debt.

During the sentencing hearing on Thursday Justice Belinda Baker explained co-offender Jenifer Jane Hanson lured the victim to attend her Moncrieff house.

After an hour, Trewartha and co-offenders Omar Haddara, Kyle Joseph Butkovic and a third unnamed man arrived at Hanson’s home.

Jake Trewartha leaves the ACT Law Courts on February 2 2023 after being sentenced for an aggravated burglary in Moncrieff. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Upon arrival, Trewartha was armed with a baseball bat, Butkovic was armed with a box cutter and the unnamed man was allegedly armed with a machete.

The victim attempted to leave but was grabbed, threatened and forced to make two transfers to Butkovic totalling $800.

He attempted to make a third transaction however it was unsuccessful, which prompted Trewartha and the unidentified man to strike him.

The victim then made a successful transfer of $2515, but Trewartha and the unknown man to assault the victim again.

Trewartha has spent almost a year in jail on remand and was sentenced to a 27 month sentence, with the rest of his sentence to be suspended. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

The victim was struck three times with the baseball bat and had sustained multiple charges to the face.

After the vicious attack Haddara told the victim to leave the house, to not go to hospital or report the matter to police.

Mr Trewartha’s lawyer told the court had a difficult childhood and had witnessed domestic violence between his mother and her partners.

The lawyer said Trewartha had long term issues with drug addiction and relapsed prior to the offending.

The court heard upon his release Trewartha had work with a production company lined up

Justice Baker described Trewartha as a “follower, not a leader” and said it was unclear if he was financially compensated for his involvement in the robbery, describing him as “the muscle” of the operation.

She sentenced him to a 27-month suspended jail sentence, backdated to February 2022 to take time spent remanded in custody into account.

Haddara is currently serving a 16-month intensive corrections order after pleading guilty to aggravated robbery.

Hanson is serving a 31-month intensive corrections order after being sentenced for her role in the robbery and unrelated charges.

Butkovic will face sentencing later this year for their involvement in the robbery.