Iraq veteran charged over armed robbery spree

Iraq veteran charged over armed robbery spree
Rebecca Richardson

A FORMER soldier who completed two tours of Iraq has allegedly spent the past three weeks committing a spate of armed robberies to feed his alcohol and gambling addictions.

Christopher Rankin, 29, from Winmalee, was charged with six counts of armed robbery at bottle shops, a service station and a video shop across the Blue Mountains and western suburbs this month.

A statement tendered to Parramatta Local Court yesterday stated that, until a month ago, Mr Rankin had been working as a forklift driver, his first job since leaving the army, when his addictions saw his life ''hit an all-time low''.

He would leave his house each day so that his girlfriend would think he was still going to work, when in reality he had been fired for not showing up.

At all the robberies, according to the statement, Mr Rankin would ask for two packets of Winfield Blue cigarettes. When the shop worker turned to get the cigarettes, he would produce a 30-centimetre military-style knife and demand cash from the till.

In total, Mr Rankin allegedly stole 12 packets of cigarettes, a bottle of Bundaberg rum and $2770 in cash.

Police spotted the car that had been described as the getaway vehicle parked outside Springwood Bowling Club on Friday afternoon.

Inside the club, the police found Mr Rankin playing the poker machines. He had two packets of Winfield Blue cigarettes on him, as well as the keys to the vehicle and $400 in cash - the same amount that had been stolen from a store that day.

Police allege they found the knife, bag and clothes described in all the robberies in Mr Rankin's car.

Legal aid described his actions as out of character and said an addiction to poker machines was to blame. He will appear in court again on Friday.