Daniel Landini pleads guilty to frightening break-in at Club Dalmeny

A South Coast club manager cowered in fear in a walk-in safe after two men, armed with a machete and a shotgun, forced their way inside in a shocking night-time break-in.

Left alone on a night-time closing shift at a popular South Coast club, a duty manager found herself cowering in fear in a walk-in safe after two men forced their way inside brandishing a machete and a makeshift shotgun.

Almost a year after the terrifying incident, one of the culprits Daniel Landini has pleaded guilty to aggravated break and enter, intimidation, and being in a stolen car at the Batemans Bay Local Court on May 2.

The Dalmeny man was charged with breaking into Club Dalmeny on June 15 2021, before stealing the duty manager’s car and $80 in cash from her bag, but nothing from the establishment.

The female manager had closed the popular club and locked the doors at around 6.15pm when she heard a loud noise coming from the front entrance, according to agreed police facts.

“The victim heard continuous loud banging coming from the glass doors and feared someone was trying to break in,” the documents state.

Daniel Landini has pleaded guilty to a break-in at the popular Club Dalmeny in June 2021.

“She ran inside the club’s ‘walk-in’ safe (strong room), locked herself inside, hid in the back corner, and turned the light off.”

An unknown male who accompanied Landini smashed out the glass panel at the entrance, gaining the pair access to the club.

Armed with a cane machete, Landini then moved through the club and into the main bar area where he rummaged through tills and cupboards.

The other man, who is not identified in police documents, approached the walk-in safe while carry a shortened long-arm firearm.

“The man pointed the firearm at the door and said: ‘f****n open the door! I've got a shotgun’,” the documents state.

The duty manager at Club Dalmeny was forced to cower in a walk-in safe after two men broke inside the popular club.

“’I’ll f****n kill ya if you don’t open the door’”.

The manager remained still in her hiding place and did not respond.

After a moment, the man said “f**k” and walked away.

The pair then entered the staffroom where they found a bag belonging to the manager containing her license and $80 in cash, which they took. Her car keys were also stolen.

The pair fled from the club in the manager’s Holden Trax ute, but did not travel far. Police facts state the car was later located only 500m from the club, with the driver’s and rear driver’s side doors open.

The keys were found still in the ignition.

Officers from the South Coast Police District recorded blood samples from the scene after locating droplets deposited at several locations both in and outside of the club, including on the front door.

Daniel Landini will be sentenced in a Wollongong court later this month after pleading guilty to a breaki-in at the popular Club Dalmeny in June 2021.

A week later, officers arrested Landini outside of the Moruya Hospital.

A scab-like wound had formed on Landini’s right hand, near to the knuckle of his index finder. The wound was analysed by a doctor who said it would have been about a week old, lining up with the break-in.

DNA samples taken from the blood at the scene also matched Landini’s.

The Dalmeny man will appear at Wollongong District Court for sentencing on May 21 after the case was delayed multiple times due to members of the defence team catching Covid.

On December 20, Landini pleaded guilty to an additional charge of possessing a prohibited drug for which he was convicted and fined $600, court documents state.

The man will remain on bail until sentencing, but was warned by Magistrate Doug Dick that he should remain in contact with his Sydney-based solicitor, Peter Katsoolis, until the matter was dealt with.

Previous charges of assault with an intent to rob had been withdrawn by the police prosecutor, and a charge of conveyance amended to that of being a passenger.