Alex Glass sentenced in Taree court for Christmas Day ATM robbery

A man who “ingested a quantity of illicit drugs” and stayed up late wrapping presents then robbed a man outside a bank on Christmas Day has been sentenced.

Taree Police Station.

A Taree man who “ingested a quantity of illicit drugs”, and stayed up late wrapping presents, robbed a man outside a bank on Christmas Day in 2022.

Alex Glass has been remanded in custody since handing himself in to Kempsey police on June 23 last year, it was heard in Taree district court on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old had initially jumped the back fence of his Taree home and fled when officers came to arrest him on January 5 in relation to the Christmas Day robbery.

During their attempts to arrest him, he pulled away ripping the shirt of an officer with another taking a fall.

Glass was charged with aggravated robbery and escape police custody.

During sentencing, Judge Sutherland said Glass had gone to the Commonwealth bank automatic teller on Christmas Day and saw another man at one of the machines within the foyer, depositing $6000 in cash.

Alex Glass robbed a man at the Taree Commonwealth Bank on Christmas Day 2022.

Glass then went back to his car, wrapped a long sleeve shirt over his head, put on sunglasses and returned – punching him in the jaw and grabbing the shoulder bag he was carrying.

In the bag was a $1800 phone, $750 sunglasses and air pods valued at $175.

The $6000 was “not part of this robbery”, Judge Sutherland told the court.

Despite attempts to disguise himself, he was “readily identifiable” to police, Judge Sutherland said.

The court heard Glass had suffered significant disadvantage in his life with a mother addicted to ice and “frequently incarcerated”.

He did not go on to high school and has spent time in jail on previous occasions.

It was also heard that he had taken a number of steps towards rehabilitation while remanded in custody at the Mid-North Coast Correctional Centre at Kempsey and that the program officer “speaks very highly of him”.

Glass pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison with a 15-month non-parole period.

Considering time already spent in custody he will be first eligible for release on September 22 this year.

He was also ordered to pay $2725 compensation to the victim.

The charge of escape police custody was taken into account when sentencing.

Glass appeared pleased with the sentence giving the thumbs up as he was led away.