Rebecca Sawka: Castlemaine couple robbed while playing Pokémon Go

Two Pokémon Go hunters were ambushed in a horror armed robbery while trying to catch ‘em all at a park in Central Victoria.

Rebecca Sawka aka Rebecca Mills, 28, appeared in Melbourne County Court to plead guilty to her role in the armed robbery of a Castlemaine couple on July 5 2020. Picture: Victoria Police

Two Pokémon Go hunters were ambushed in a horror armed robbery while trying to catch ‘em all at a park in Central Victoria at night, a court has heard.

Rebecca Sawka aka Rebecca Mills, 28, pleaded guilty in Melbourne County Court on Tuesday to her role in assaulting and robbing a Castlemaine couple.

The court heard the couple, Luke Beers, 22, and his partner Kelly-Anne Maerz, 26, were trying to ‘catch’ Pokémonon the free smartphone game, Pokemon Go, on Saturday July 4.

As part of the game, users walk around real life locations and the Pokémon appear on the screen.

The court heard, the couple drove to the green footbridge, at the bottom of Douglas Crescent, Castlemaine, at 12.20am when they were ambushed.

It was not clear whether the attack was planned but soon after they arrived a black Suzuki Swift parked behind them before they were brutally attacked.

The couple thought the car was a friend’s so unlocked the door before Sawka climbed into the back seat and a man armed with a box cutter appeared at their window.

Ms Maerz recognised Sawka from her high school.

Sawka’s co-accused allegedly yelled at Mr Beers before he allegedly threatened to carve a scar into Mr Beers with a knife if he did not hand over his money, gold chain and watch.

Ms Maerz, who demanded that her former classmate get out of her car, tried to start the car and slammed on the horn.

But Sawka started punching Ms Maerz in the head and nose, swinging at the woman from the back seat.

Her co-accused allegedly threatened to steal their car until Ms Maerz transferred $490 to his account.

The couple were told that if they transferred another $1500 they would give Mr Beers’s watch back.

The man allegedly punched Mr Beers in the face before he and Sawka walked away.

Police searched Sawka’s Castlemaine home on July 9, where they discovered 3.9g of 1,4 Butanedoil, also known as GHB.

Police also found suspected stolen items, including a white case containing stamps and a diary, a black jacket with a security tag still attached, as well counterfeit money and a curved knife.

Sawka was previously busted by police in a car with stolen plates on June 23.

At the time, police searched her car and found a suspected stolen marine licence, counterfeit $50 notes, and a purple zip-up pouch in her wallet with multiple small deal bags containing 0.4g of methyl amphetamine.

Her barrister Christopher Tenny said his client has been “left rudderless” following the death of both her parents in the last five years.

“Her life started to go off the rails,” Mr Tenny said.

“All she knows is drug using associates.”

The court heard that Sawka struggled with depression and was a drug addict, using meth and GHB daily.

Mr Tenny said her co-accused was the “driving force” in the robbery, but admitted Sawka still played an “active role”.

Prosecutor Michelle Zammit said Sawka knew there was a “plan for some mischief for the car in front”.

Her barrister said her biggest motivation to rehabilitate and get on a clean path were her two young children.

Sawka pleaded guilty to the drug possession, counterfeit money, common law assault, possession of stolen goods and robbery.

She was sentenced to 10 months in prison with 374 days already served.