THE girlfriend of an armed robber who used a double-barreled shotgun to hold up a Waratah pub and stole $16,000 has been jailed for attempting to help conceal his involvement in the terrifying crime.
Jason Bridge, now 34, was dressed in black and wearing a balaclava and gloves when he stormed into the hotel armed with the shortened firearm about 9.15am on April 18, 2019.
He entered the main bar and pointed the firearm at a patron, telling the man: "I want the money. Give me the money."
The licensee, who was at the hotel with his baby daughter, heard Bridge demanding money and turned to see the 34-year-old point the gun at him and say: "Hurry up, get the f---ing money. Get me the fifties."
Bridge then threw a bag on the ground and told the licensee to "fill it with fifties".
He pushed the licensee into the office and the bag was filled with more than $16,000 before Bridge fled outside to Tighe Street and a waiting stolen getaway car.
At about 11am, the stolen car stopped outside a unit in Corlette Street, Cooks Hill and Bridge's girlfriend, Sallyann Cleal, now 34, was handed an Adidas bag containing the firearm and the clothing Bridge had been wearing during the robbery.
A week earlier, Bridge had used a firearm to hold up a bottle shop at Winston Hills and on that occasion made off with $1000.
Bridge and Cleal were arrested outside a hotel at Castle Hill on April 20, 2019 and police seized two bags containing a total of 54 grams of methamphetamine that Bridge had bought with the proceeds of the robbery.
Later that day, a search of Cleal's unit in Cooks Hill uncovered the items used in the robbery that she had concealed for her boyfriend.
Bridge was in April jailed for a maximum of six years and three months, with a non-parole period of three years and nine months.
Bridge, who had pleaded guilty to two counts of armed robbery, police pursuit and break and enter, will be eligible for parole in July, 2023.
Meanwhile, Cleal, who police initially alleged was the getaway driver in the Waratah pub robbery, had denied being involved in the robbery or possessing the firearm and was scheduled to face a trial in Newcastle District Court.
But during the super callover she pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to armed robbery, possession of a shortened firearm and supplying methamphetamine.
Cleal, who was represented by solicitor Matthew Unwin, was jailed last week for a maximum of three years, with a non-parole period of 20 months.
She can be released on parole as early as August.
