Bradley Robert Scott jailed for plans to break into luxury Coffs Harbour home and steal cash

It was an elaborate plan to travel almost 400km to break into a luxury north coast home and steal cash to pay off a hefty $50,000 drug debt. However, heavily-armed police swooped first.

Heavily armed police arrested Scott and Matthews at a Coolongolook service station on April 20, 2023. Picture: Google Maps

With a $50,000 drug debt and threats to pay it back, Bradley Robert Scott made elaborate plans to drive almost 400km to steal cash from inside a $1.5m luxury home of a well-known north coast family.

The 38-year-old and Amy Lee Matthews left Edgeworth in separate cars on April 20 last year and made their way up the Pacific Highway towards their final destination of Coffs Harbour.

Police facts said the pair planned to steal an undisclosed amount of cash from the north coast residence after learning it was believed to house a safe inside.

But the pair would not make it that far.

Only 130km into their trip, and stopped at a popular small town service station, police made their move.

The house breaking implements seized by police. NSW Police.

The pair were dramatically arrested by officers from the crack tactical operation unit in the carpark of the Ampol service station at Coolongolook at around 11:30pm that night.

Police facts revealed Strike Force Rubus detectives searched a Volkswagon Golf and an Audi and uncovered a number of house breaking implements, while Scott was found in possession of cocaine and methamphetamine and Matthews a small quantity of meth, a knife and a face covering.

Robbery and Serious Crime Squad seized drugs when they arrested Scott and Matthews. NSW Police.

The court heard police also recovered a Colt .45 pistol as part of their investigation after they had intercepted communications between Scott and an associate on his way to Coffs Harbour.

Scott placed the firearm in a bag on the side of the road and gave instructions to his associate on how to find it but instead police went to the location and retrieved it.

Scott pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit an aggravated break, enter and steal in company, drug supply and possession of a firearm in contravention of a prohibition order.

In Newcastle District Court on Friday, it was heard that due to Scott’s $50,000 drug debt he was “under duress” and “desperate” to repay it after being threatened with physical harm.

The firearm seized by detectives. Picture: NSW Police

On the day of his arrest the court also heard he had taken five grams of meth and used daily in the lead up.

He gave evidence saying he wanted to break the cycle in his offending and his addiction to drugs.

“I’m done with jail I can’t do it anymore. There’s more to life. I want to break that cycle,” he said.

His defence barrister said his client had “made strides” in the right direction and his decision was “clouded” at the time of the offending due to his drug use.

But the Crown argued despite defence claiming it wasn’t planned, there was strong evidence against this and he was on parole at the time for similar offences.

The court heard Scott had been discussing firearms over a period of two weeks prior to his arrest.

Judge Siobhan Herbert sentenced the 38-year-old to three years and three months jail with a non-parole period of one year and six months and said on release a drug rehabilitation program should be considered.

For a charge of drive whilst disqualified he also lost his license for six months.

Matthews pleaded guilty to use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, robbery in company, aggravated break, enter and steal in company, while charges of drug possession and have custody of an offensive implement in a public places were taken into account.

She was sentenced in March to a one year and eight month intensive correction order (ICO) which is a jail term served within the community.