Natalie Nash: Mildura mother sentenced over armed robbery of taxi driver

A Mildura mother of three demanded a taxi driver hand over money while her co-accused held a hunting knife to the victim’s throat, a court has heard.

A Mildura mother of three has been sentenced after she and her co-accused robbed a taxi driver at knifepoint in 2020.

Natalie Nash, 29, appeared in the Melbourne County Court, sitting in Mildura, on Thursday to be sentenced on one charge of armed robbery. She copped a two-year community corrections order.

Nash and co-accused Jon Miles were at the Irymple hotel on July 4, 2020, the court heard.. Nash waited outside while Miles went inside to call a taxi.

When the taxi arrived Nash sat in the front seat, with Miles in the back.

Nash directed the driver to pull into a carpark before producing a hunting knife from his pocket and holding it to the victim’s throat.

Miles used his other hand to restrain the victim by his shoulders.

“Give me the money. Give me the money. Give me the f****** money,” Nash said.

She took his wallet and stole $300.

Miles asked the driver if there was any more money to which he replied there wasn’t.

“You’re not gonna lie to me or I’ll hurt you, c***,” Miles said to the victim.

Nash and Miles ran away with police finding Nash a few days later.

She attempted to flee but police arrested and charged her. She was in custody for three months before being released on bail.

The victim has had to leave his job and sell his family home as a result of the offending.

He said in a victim impact statement his wife now has to work full time hours to support the family.

“I am scared and afraid,” he said.

The court heard there was no indication of planning and it was not a “professional” robbery.

Judge Felicity Hampel said she was impressed by the fact Nash had managed to stay out of trouble since being released on bail.

“It’s remarkable that there has been no further offending,” she said.

Judge Hampel also gave weight to Nash’s “unusually severe” traumatic upbringing and said the defendant was “committed” to becoming a better mother.

“You have demonstrated a commitment to putting their needs first by admitting that you are not at a stage yet where you can care for them independently,” she said.

As well as the corrections order, Nash was convicted.

His co-accused, Miles, was convicted and jailed for 42 months.