Barman Adam John Barrett pleads guilty over $51k heist of Gateshead Tavern

It was the daring – and foolhardy – heist of his own pub before a teen barman faked having Covid and went on a five-day gambling bender and spending spree until his arrest at Star Casino.

Adam John Barrett stole over $50,000 from the safe of the Gateshead Tavern before going on a gambling and spending spree. Picture: Google Maps

A teenage barman spent tens of thousands of dollars on clothing, cars and the casino during a five-day bender after cleaning out his pub’s safe.

Adam John Barrett, now aged 19, had just $4568 in cash and $1400 in chips left when he was arrested at the gaming tables of Star Casino in Sydney on May 18 last year.

Other than a $5500 Mitsubishi Outlander he bought on Facebook and several thousands dollars worth of designer clothes from fashion houses Versace and Gucci, it was all Barrett had left from the $51,170 he had taken just five days earlier.

Barrett pleaded guilty this week to the aggravated break and enter of this own pub – the Gateshead Tavern in Lake Macquarie – in a bizarre and ultimately foolhardy plan clearly captured on CCTV.

Agreed facts tendered to Newcastle Local Court said Barrett had started his shift on May 12 and security vision showed him failing to properly lock doors and taking the safe key before finishing after 3am the following morning.

Barrett has admitted taking the cash from the safe after a shift at the Gateshead Tavern. Picture: Google Maps

He returned by 4am, dodging the alarm because a cleaner was inside vacuuming and oblivious to Barrett helping himself to pencil cases carrying the takings from the hotel’s 24 poker machines and some other cash.

After stealing the money, Barrett would book a cab using his own phone and asking to be picked up at an address about one kilometre away.

A manager rang him the following morning when the safe was found to be open and the cash gone before Barrett told him he had locked the doors.

The following day, Barrett called in sick for his shift, telling his manager he had contracted Covid and needed a week off.

Adam John Barrett was arrested at The Star. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

Instead, he buys the Outlander from Facebook Marketplace, handing one of the pub’s pencil cases over to the seller with $5200 in it before adding a further $300 cash.

The next day, he bought two JVC car speakers from Supercheap Auto at Glendale for $239.98 before playing poker machines at the Mattara Hotel at Charlestown and Wests at New Lambton.

On May 17 – four days after he stole the money – Barrett handed over $200 for some clothes at the City Beach store at Charlestown before he drove to Sydney despite being a disqualified driver.

He first attended the Versace store at Star Pyrmont at 1.17pm and bought a pair of sunglasses and one jumper for a total of $1310.

Barrett then travelled to the Gucci store inside Westfield Sydney, where he handed over $1535 for a bag at 5.06pm.

Police arrested Barrett at the gambling tables at Star Casino in Sydney. File Picture.

He then returned to the casino and gambled at gaming rooms and tables until leaving at 11.15pm and returning again at 11.18pm and continued until 12.42am.

Barrett returned to the casino at 2.12pm and remained at the tables before police arrive at 3.21pm and take him into custody.

He initially denied the offences.

“The offender told police if he did ‘hypothetically’ commit the offence ‘I wouldn’t mean harm to anyone. And if I did do it, I was truly in trouble’,” the agreed facts said.

Barrett was committed for sentence in Newcastle District Court in March for the aggravated break and enter and commit a serious indictable offence charge.

He has also pleaded guilty to one count of dealing in the proceeds of crime and disqualified driving and will ask the sentencing judge to take those offences into account.

Barrett remains in jail on remand.