Tresa Donohoe, Tyson Cox refused bail over alleged smash and grabs targeting western Sydney businesses
A teenager and woman arrested while allegedly breaking into a bottle shop as part of a three week crime spree targeting nearly 40 Western Sydney businesses have applied for bail.
Penrith
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A Western Sydney mother and teenager accused of taking part in a violent smash-and-grab crime spree, which allegedly caused $150,000 worth of damages to dozens of businesses across Western Sydney, have been denied bail.
Tresa Donohoe, 42, and Tyson Cox, 18, were refused bail at Penrith Local Court on Thursday after they were arrested allegedly mid way through a robbery attempt the day before.
Donohoe is charged with 38 counts of aggravated break and enter, seven counts of driving with a suspended license and one count of possessing a prohibited drug.
Cox is charged with aggravated break and enter in company.
Another 18-year-old, Donohoe’s son, has been charged with six counts of aggravated stealing and was granted conditional bail.
He will appear in Penrith Local Court on July 16.
The pair’s dramatic arrest saw an alleged mask-clad, hammer wielding Cox nabbed in the alleged act of smashing the front window of a Winmalee bottle shop.
Security tape recorded the alleged break in, along with Cox being confronted by police and his attempt to flee into a waiting Suzuki Swift, with Donohoe allegedly behind the wheel.
Both Donohoe, Cox and the third teenager have been charged in relation to a three week break and enter spree, which targeted 39 from St Marys to Springwood.
Police claim Donohoe was the ringleader behind the operation.
On Thursday, barrister Stephen Molloy told the court Cox should be granted bail on the grounds he would be vulnerable in custody, citing his intellectual disability, slight build and six diagnosed behaviour disorders.
The prosecution opposed bail however Mr Molloy suggested Cox would only leave home in the presence of an NDIS worker or his mother.
Magistrate Brian van Zuylen refused bail, finding Cox posed an unacceptable risk to the community, noting he was already on bail for robbery in company which was listed for certification in Parramatta Local Court today.
Magistrate van Zuylen told the court Cox had previously been charged over an allegation he and other young people robbed a 16-year-old in Rouse Hill.
“Punching and kicking him on the ground with a chipped tooth and a small cut, the CCTV high definition allegedly ID’d him,” he said.
The court heard Cox also had a separate matter of stalking/intimidation outstanding at Blacktown Court, which was next listed for July 10.
During a bail application for Donohoe, the court heard she was alleged to be the driver in four other break-and-enters.
However, solicitor Nat Leung disagreed the Crown’s case was an overwhelming one which relied largely on CCTV and mobile data.
Ms Leung said Donohoe had allegedly been stopped in the vehicle on one occasion, which police had “accordingly extrapolated that as her being the driver on all over occasions”.
However, Magistrate van Zuylen denied bail, saying while it may be “difficult to assess the strength of that particular case”, there was still an unacceptable risk.
“When the court takes into account the sheer number of other offences where she is accused, and the seriousness of that offending, and the most recent one the court is of the view there is an unacceptable risk,” he said.
Donohoe and Cox will remain in custody with their matters to return to court on June 19.
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