Robert Behsman: Batemans Bay man pleads guilty to robbery of motor inn

A South Coast man who forced his way inside a motor inn wearing a balaclava and armed with an extendable baton was told by the manager to “hang on” while he finished a call, a court has heard.

A South Coast man who threatened a hotel manager with an extendable baton during a frightening daytime robbery of a Batemans Bay motor inn has learned his fate.

Robert Behsman, 24, pleaded guilty to robbing the Argyle Terrace Motor Inn on November 10, 2021.

The Batemans Bay man stole approximately $1500 in notes from a cash till, as well as a cordless landline phone belonging to the manager.

Behsman told Judge Christopher O’Brien at the Nowra District Court on Friday he robbed the motor inn for money to feed his meth addiction.

According to agreed police facts, the 55-year-old manager was in the reception area speaking to a customer on the phone at about 8.25am when Behsman forced his way inside wearing a black balaclava and brandishing a black or chrome baton.

“The manager indicated to Behsman that he was talking on the phone and would be a minute,” according to the facts.

“Behsman put his finger to his mouth to gesture for the manager to be quiet, to which the manager said: ‘Hang on. I’m on the phone’.”

Seeing the baton in Behsman’s hands, the manager again said to him: “Can you wait? I’m on the phone.”

Behsman ordered the manager to hand over the money before stepping behind the counter.

“He pointed at a filing cabinet behind the counter and again yelled: ‘Give me the money’,” according to the agreed facts.

“He then flung the handle of the baton in a fast motion, causing it to extend.

“Fearing for his safety, the manager opened the cash drawer himself and removed a bundle of notes before running from the office.”

Behsman was arrested the following week in Mogo after attempting to flee on his motorcycle following an investigation by South Coast police.

Argyle Terrace Motor Inn in Batemans Bay.

In sentencing, solicitor Adam Sumbak urged Judge O’Brien to take into account the length of time Behsman had already spent in custody.

Judge O’Brien told Behsman that the attack, while serious, was below the mid range owing to a lack of planning or actual violence.

Behsman was sentenced to three years in prison commencing April 7, 2022.

He will be eligible for parole from October 2024.

At the time of the robbery, Behsman was wanted by police for an assault charge relating to his then-pregnant partner, and was on a community corrections order for prior driving offences, the court heard.

The assault charge was dismissed following a hearing, Behsman told the court.