Armed assailant who robbed Valern bottle shop with fake gun finally jailed after 10 years

Ricky John Crossin thought he’d gotten away with robbing the Valern bottle shop in Moonah a decade ago. But science – and the law – have finally caught up to him. DETAILS >>

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A HERDSMAN Cove man has been jailed over an historic hold-up at the Valern Hotel bottle shop, thanks to the aid of DNA science.

Ricky John Crossin, 51, was jailed for a minimum of 10 months on Wednesday after pleading guilty to one count of armed robbery.

Supreme Court of Tasmania judge Gregory Geason said on April 14, 2010, two 9/11 Bottleshop employees were restocking shelves when Crossin entered wearing gloves and what looked like a balaclava.

He was also carrying what appeared to be a handgun.

“You looked at both men and said ‘put it up’ or words to that effect. You spoke softly and didn’t shout,” Justice Geason said.

The Valern Hotel, Moonah.

Crossin then pushed one of the workers towards the tills – with the employee then pressing a silent alarm.

The worker then put money into a bag Crossin was holding, before Crossin told him to “hurry up” and started stashing the cash himself.

Crossin then left the bottle shop with $1284.05, removing his balaclava and fleeing towards Hopkins Street.

One of the employees, calling the police, realised Crossing had left what was actually an imitation handgun behind on the counter.

The following day, police received a call that someone had located a jumper Crossin had been wearing during the robbery at the Moonah Salvation Army.

A few days later, someone else found a beanie with eye holes cut out of it, and a glove, also at the Hopkins Street charity store.

A forensic examination was conducted on both items in 2010, but it wasn’t until February 2018 that a forensic scientist advised Tasmania Police she’d received a match – to Crossin’s daughter.

When Crossin was interviewed by police, he said he’d never been to the Valern and that the beanie and glove weren’t familiar to him – but later pleaded guilty to the crime.

Crossin’s lawyer, Craig Rainbird, said he committed the crime for money to pay off a drug debt.

Justice Geason noted Crossin hadn’t offended since, but said he needed to hand down a sentence “to make it abundantly clear” that offences targeting vulnerable workers would “always attract a harsh penalty”.

Crossin received a 20-month jail sentence, with 10 months suspended, and must repay the money he stole.

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