Alice Springs crime: Trio arrested in connection to Desert Springs robbery front court

Three men have had their matter in court in connection to brazen daytime robbery in Alice Springs – but two have walked free. Find out why.

Alice Springs Local Court. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Two of the three men arrested in connection to a brazen daylight robbery in Alice Springs – where a woman was allegedly assaulted with a wine bottle – have walked free after less than 24 hours on remand.

Stanley Burton, 41; Leighton Wilson, 45; and Horace Baker, 41, were arrested in connection to a robbery at a commercial premises in Desert Springs on Sunday, with all three having their matters before the Alice Springs Local Court on Monday.

Police have alleged the robbery occurred at 10am, with a woman injured on her arms protecting herself from a wine bottle which was allegedly swung at her during the alleged theft.

The three men arrested were allegedly drinking the allegedly stolen alcohol on the Todd River according to police.

Spread over two different courtrooms, Mr Burton’s matter was called first before Judge Sarah McNamara, who ordered police tender all their evidence in his case by August 7.

Scant details were revealed about the alleged offending in court during Mr Burton’s brief mention, which was over in under five minutes.

Alice Springs Local Court. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Mr Burton has been charged with aggravated robbery, causing damage to property, being equipped with a weapon for theft, and disorderly behaviour in a public place.

No plea was entered on Mr Burton’s behalf on Monday, and he did not appear in the dock on Monday.

Judge McNamara adjourned his matter to August 14 and Mr Burton was kept on remand.

Later on Monday, Wilson appeared before Judge McNamara, dressed in a black singlet and black pants, where he pleaded guilty to a single count of receiving stolen property.

The court heard Wilson was busted with two bottles of wine on Sunday, June 29, which he accepted despite knowing they were stolen.

Judge McNamara said “it’s not the biggest amount of property” but accepted Wilson’s offending was “spontaneous and opportunistic”.

Judge McNamara recorded a conviction, ordered Wilson spend 21 days in prison, but suspended his sentence for nine months.

Prior to Wilson’s sentencing, the court heard Baker was a co-accused and Judge McNamara said Baker was “similarly positioned in terms of the offending”.

Baker appeared in a different courtroom before Judge David Bamber, where he received a six month suspended sentence.