John Bartels: Bendigo man lured homeless couple in tomahawk robbery
A thug robbed a homeless Bendigo couple of all their belongings during a horror tomahawk robbery, a court has heard.
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A thug lured a vulnerable homeless Bendigo couple into an ambush and robbed them of everything they owned during a callous attack, a court has heard.
John Hannis Bartels appeared in Shepparton County Court to plead guilty to the violent carjacking of a homeless Bendigo couple on February 18 2020.
Court documents said his victims, Tayla Wells and Edward Power-Hall, were living out of her white Holden Crewman utility, and all their belongings were in a tent stored in their ute.
The couple had met with Bartels to buy cannabis from him when a group of masked men allegedly smashed in the car windows with their weapons and screamed at their victims to get out of their car.
The victims had driven to Marong to meet Bartels, before heading to the Queen Elizabeth Oval car park, Bendigo, to wait for the drug delivery.
Ms Wells pleaded with her attackers not to do it, and Bartels said “sorry, but I have to otherwise I will get killed”.
Bartels gave her two cigarettes and told her not to tell the cops before driving off in their car, which he left hidden in a Bendigo garage.
The couple were left with cuts and scratches from the broken glass.
The two victims knew their attackers, and later confirmed their identities via Facebook.
Bartels was arrested at his Epsom home at 10.50am, where police also located a small quantity of methylamphetamine.
Bartels admitted to knowing about the plot to steal the ute, but claimed he was forced to participate by his co-accused.
Bartels told police he did not know that weapons would be used.
On Friday August 20 Bartels pleaded guilty to the armed robbery and drug possession.
Judge Michael Cahill sentenced Bartels to 540 days in prison, already served, and a two-year community corrections order.
His order will include drug and mental health treatment and judicial monitoring.
Bartels was also fined $200 for the drug possession.
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