Prostitute Mikala Fergusson jailed over client robbery at Harp Hotel

Illawarra sex worker Mikala Fergusson faced Wollongong District Court for sentencing on August 2, after she and three other men robbed a client mid sex-session at a Wollongong hotel.

Mikala Fergusson, 26, appeared in the NSW District Court for sentencing on Friday. Picture: Facebook

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A Wollongong prostitute will remain behind bars until late next year after teaming up with three men to rob a client mid-rendezvous.

Mikala Fergusson, 26, appeared in the NSW District Court for sentencing on Friday, where she broke down in tears as she recounted the events of September 21, 2017, that landed her in jail.

According to court documents, Fergusson played an instrumental role in robbing one of her long-time clients and friends of more than $5000 during a late night meet-up at Wollongong’s Harp Hotel.

Fergusson first met the victim in 2016 while working at Unanderra brothel ‘Desires’.

The two formed a relationship and met-up several times, usually at a hotel room booked by the man.

Mikala Fergusson was working as a prostitute at Unanderra brothel ‘Desires’ at the time of the offence. Picture: Facebook

The day before the robbery, Fergusson contacted the man and asked if he wanted to meet up, he agreed and told her he would book a room at the Harp Hotel and pay her $300 for her services.

Late on September 21, Fergusson was dropped at the hotel in black sedan. She met up with her client and they went straight to the room.

According to court documents, Fergusson changed into lingerie while her client stripped naked and hopped onto the bed.

Fergusson then asked her client to go and shower, which was not part of their usual routine. She then told the client her phone battery was dead and she was going to see if she could borrow one from the hotel.

Once in the foyer of the hotel, the court heard Fergusson joined with three men, who had driven her to the venue in their car.

She handed them the key to the hotel room and the victim’s key card, which she had taken from his wallet while he showered.

Two of the men then walked up to the victim’s room and opened the door to find the man laying naked on the bed.

The court heard one of the men, who was armed with a metal pole threatened the victim, before demanding he hand over his wallet, phone and pin to his online banking app.

Meantime, Fergusson left the hotel with the third man, where they drove to an ATM below the Novotel in North Wollongong and withdrew $2200 cash.

Court documents also revealed $3400 was transferred from the victim’s bank account.

Fergusson said she only went through with the plan because she was afraid of the men who hatched the idea.

Fergusson and the man then returned to the Harp where they picked up the other two men. The victim then called police to report what had happened.

Fergusson was arrested and charged with robbery in company and obtaining a benefit by deception, to which she plead guilty.

During her appearance in Wollongong District Court on Friday, Fergusson said she only went ahead with the plan as the two men who stormed the victim’s room had forced her to do so.

“I was really scared and I just went along with it because I was intimidated,” she said.

“They were heavy guys and they had been banned from the parlour in the past. I was living at the parlour and I didn’t know what else to do.”

When asked why she did not alert the victim to the men’s plan to rob him, Fergusson said she “wasn’t thinking straight” due to the amount of drugs she had taken.

“I was on GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) and was heavily intoxicated with drugs,” she said.

“I can’t remember much of it, I wasn’t thinking straight.”

During the appearance, Fergusson maintained she did not receive any of the money she and the other men stole from the victim, but Judge Andrew Haesler said it was hard for him to believe Fergusson had no expectation of reward.

In handing down his sentence Judge Haesler accepted Fergusson’s vulnerability may have been exploited, but that she was an integral part of the crime.

“[Fergusson] was alone and asked him to shower, she handed the keys over,” he said.

“She must have known something terrible might happen … and I cannot accept that she was not at some stage wanting a share of the proceeds.”

Judge Haesler sentenced the 26-year-old to a jail term of three years, with a non-parole period of one year and 10 months, making her eligible for release in October 2020.

Judge Haesler said he was heartened to hear Fergusson was now taking medication to manage her bipolar disorder and said she would have a good chance at “making something of herself” upon release.

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