IT was closing time on a Saturday night in February last year and a barman was shutting the doors at the Rathmines Bowling Club when suddenly two masked figures appeared.
"Get inside, we want the f---ing money," one of the men demanded.
The two masked men - who on this occasion were armed with a claw hammer and a carving knife - were cousins Braiden and Frederick Tighe and they were about to embark on a three-month spree of violent armed robberies targeting isolated Lake Macquarie clubs.
The pair used household items - kitchen knives, hammers, bricks and metal bars - appeared when the clubs were closing or quiet, terrorised and assaulted staff and patrons, and by the time they were arrested in June had stolen more than $60,000.
On Wednesday, Braiden, 24, and Frederick, 28, appeared in Newcastle Local Court via audio visual link from separate correctional centres and both pleaded guilty to four counts of armed robbery, aggravated break and enter, and conspiracy to commit aggravated break and enter. The two cousins were accused of a host of other armed robberies and break-ins, including robberies at Lambton Bowling Club, Telarah Bowling Club, Edgeworth Bowling Club and the Wangi RSL club, but those charges were withdrawn.
The pair will appear in Newcastle District Court in July to get a sentence date.
Another man - Warren James Tighe - has pleaded not guilty to one count of armed robbery. He will appear in Newcastle District Court on Thursday.
At Rathmines Bowling Club, a small venue on an isolated point jutting out into Lake Macquarie, Braiden and Frederick Tighe threatened to kill the barman if he didn't open the safe.
They stole $33,000 and while running from the club robbed a security guard who had just pulled up outside.
On April 26, the pair first robbed a female staff member of her handbag and keys as she left Boolaroo Bowling Club and then returned less than four hours later to break into the club and steal $9000 from the safe.
On May 8, they targeted the Toronto Country Club, which is boarded by a golf course and bushland, and attacked a cleaner as he was leaving at 1.15am.
Armed with a knife and an axe, they forced the cleaner back into the club but triggered the alarm and fled.
Then a few weeks later on May 24 the two men stormed the Toronto Country Club, bashed a patron waiting outside, kicked a barman in the head and stole $20,000.
The men were linked to the robberies through DNA found on discarded clothing, a text message exchange that discussed breaking into Boolaroo Bowling Club and items seized by police after their arrests.
