A WOMAN who helped bash and rob a man of $700 after he took money out from an ATM in the Bridge Mall, has been jailed.
Christine Kakoschke, 19, was remanded in custody yesterday, after a magistrate said the daylight robbery “puts a totally different light on sentencing”.
Upon magistrate Peter Couzens revoking Kakoschke’s bail, her older sister began yelling and swearing at the court before storming out of the room.
“You (expletive) dogs, you (expletive) rats,” she said.
“And jail really helps.”
Prior to Kakoschke being remanded, four police officers entered the court room, and eventually had to escort Kakoschke’s vocal support group out of the court house.
Appearing in Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday, Kakoschke pleaded guilty to two charges of robbery and single counts of theft, recklessly causing injury and dealing property suspected of being the proceeds of crime.
The court heard Kakoschke and two others watched a man withdraw $700 from an ATM in the Bridge Mall about 3pm on November 28 last year, before walking along Peel Street.
The trio followed the victim, eventually asking him for $5 which was refused.
The victim then went into a shop, but was set upon when he went back outside.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Clint Prebble said the victim was pushed up against a wall and punched in the face before Kakoschke punched him in the stomach.
One of the co-accuseds then grabbed the man’s wallet before they all ran off.
The victim stumbled into the Bridge Hotel seeking help. He suffered injuries to his left eye and cheekbone and attended Ballarat Base Hospital.
Defence lawyer Kylie Moloney said her client was in the grips of drug addiction at the time, and was going to use the money to buy drugs and alcohol.
Ms Moloney said Kakoschke was trying her best to stay out of trouble.
“For a young lady with her cognitive ability, being able to remain offence free is quite an achievement,” she said.
But Mr Couzens said jail was the only option.
“The only suitable punishment (for these crimes) for a person with a deeply troubled history is imprisonment,” he said.
“That robbery is particularly serious, it was in daylight when a person withdraws money from the ATM and is effectively stalked and then set upon.”