Berwick Secondary College: Kirsty Caldwell sentenced for terrifying armed robbery role
A former Berwick Secondary College student, who dropped out of school as she battled meth abuse, has been sentenced for her role in a terrifying armed robbery.
South East
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A Berwick Secondary College dropout lured her cousin’s ex-boyfriend into a terrifying armed robbery ambush.
Kirsty Caldwell, 23, was sentenced in the County Court to 56 days’ jail — time she has already served — after pleading guilty to armed robbery.
Caldwell, her cousin Brianna Rosse, and co-accused Shane Allen — who Rosse had also been in a relationship with — allegedly plotted to rob Rosse’s ex-boyfriend Jason Pellissier.
Allen and the cousin allegedly sent Caldwell as a honey trap to lure Mr Pellissier to her Pakenham home during the early hours of October 25, 2016.
Caldwell then allegedly gave Allen the green light via text to come over.
The court heard Allen arrived about 4.30am on October 25, 2016, walked inside and allegedly put a large hunting knife to Mr Pellissier’s throat, threatening to cut a “smiley” face with the knife, and said “give me everything you have or things won’t be pretty”.
Caldwell then texted her cousin about the incident, “haha yep he is here and Jason is s----ing himself.”
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Another text was allegedly sent to Allen saying: “Feel free to hit him.”
All three drove to an ATM where Mr Pellissier withdrew $260 while Caldwell waited in the car with the knife.
They drove back to the Pakenham home, where Caldwell removed a spark plug from Mr Pellissier’s car so he couldn’t leave. Caldwell also stole a Yamaha home theatre system and a Monster powerboard, which she later tried to sell.
Caldwell, Rosse and Allen were arrested two days later.
Caldwell was sentenced last Friday in the County Court to 56 days’ jail — time she has already served — after pleading guilty to armed robbery. She must also serve a three-year community corrections order.
“This was an extremely terrifying incident,” Judge Trapnell said.
“(Mr Pellissier) was visibly upset and crying and very scared throughout the whole episode.
“The victim was completely at your mercy and putty in your hands.”
Mr Pellissier said he felt “very scared” every day and had flashbacks of the knife at his throat.
Caldwell has battled meth abuse since she dropped out of school in year 9.
She has had multiple stints in prison and numerous prior offences, including assault, assaulting police, theft, and possession of a controlled weapon.
Judge Trapnell said he was optimistic about Caldwell could be rehabilitated chances if she severed ties with her “previous criminal associates”.
Rosse was given a six-month community corrections order for her role in the robbery.
Allen will contest several charges at a County Court hearing scheduled for May 2020.