Bellbrae man Jacob Agostino, 26, sentenced over Geelong robberies

A frightened cashier involved in an armed robbery in Newtown at the hands of a country footballer was working her first day on the job, a court has heard.

Police at the scene of the Grovedale Ampol following the robbery. Photo: Geelong TV.

A country footballer who held up three Geelong service stations on the same day has been described as “opportunistic, unsophisticated and amateur” in a Geelong court.

Jacob Agostino, 26, has escaped conviction over the robberies in Newtown, Newcomb and Grovedale last year, with the County Court hearing his three-hour crime spree was triggered by financial concerns and recent injuries.

He pleaded guilty to armed robbery and other charges on Friday.

The court heard on July 23, after putting petrol in his van at Ampol in Newtown, he entered the store wearing a hooded jumper and sunglasses and demanded cash, threatening the cashier with a concealed rock that he later raised to his shoulder.

It was the victim’s first day on the job.

The court heard she was frightened and unsure how to activate the security alarm before handing over cash from the till.

Agostino then drove to Ampol in Newcomb, parking his van and entering the store and placing a snickers bar on the counter.

Jacob Agostino while playing for Anglesea in the BFNL. Picture: Anglesea Football Club

He padded down his pockets and told the attendant he needed to go back to his car to get some money. He returned and put a five cent coin onto the counter before demanding more cash.

The third incident, again at an Ampol in Grovedale, Agostino placed another chocolate bar on the counter. When the worker opened up the till, he again demanded cash before fleeing the scene.

The first two incidents were captured on CCTV, the court heard.

Agostino was arrested by police a short time later, with a search of his van locating a rock and $410 in cash, the court heard.

In a police interview, he said he had fallen on hard financial times and had struggled with the surgery of a hip, and an earlier shoulder reconstruction.

While the charges were very serious, the Geelong County Court heard Agostino did not make gratuitous threats or engage in violent conduct to effect the robberies.

He had no prior criminal history and had good support from his family, the court heard.

The former Anglesea and St Bede’s Mentone’s footballer was sentenced to a two year Community Corrections Order without conviction, involving 200 hours of community work.

Originally published as Bellbrae man Jacob Agostino, 26, sentenced over Geelong robberies