Remote Campsite Ordeal for Solo Traveller
A pair of brothers have been sent to prison for their roles in a terrifying gunpoint robbery that targeted a highly vulnerable British tourist at a secluded campsite in the Myall Lakes National Park. The victim, who was on a solo road trip around Australia, was asleep in his van at the otherwise deserted Wells campground at Mungo Brush on the night of July 30 last year.
He was woken in the middle of the night by three men, two of whom were armed with rifles. One of the armed men confronted the tourist, stating, "Yep, this is happening, give us your keys." The court heard the young man was alone in a remote location, making him a particularly vulnerable target for the offenders.
A Drug-Fuelled Crime Spree Unfolds
The perpetrators, identified as brothers Cody Kenneth Smith, 24, and Dylan Peter Smith, 20, along with their accomplice Cody Johnson, 28, were in the midst of a drug-fuelled crime spree across the Hunter region. Earlier that same night, the trio had smashed their way into a service station at Karuah, stealing a large quantity of cigarettes.
Their criminal activities escalated with the theft of a ute from Tea Gardens and a Mercedes van from Hawks Nest, before they descended upon the remote campsite. After robbing the British tourist of his Toyota HiAce van—which contained his phone, wallet, bank cards, and all his other possessions—the men left him with only his passport, a jumper, and a bottle of water. The victim was forced to walk for 30 minutes in the dead of night to the Mungo Brush campground to raise the alarm.
Police Pursuit and Dramatic Arrests
The tourist's emergency call triggered a significant police response. By 6.40am the following morning, officers spotted the three stolen vehicles being driven in a convoy on Myall Way at Tea Gardens. When police attempted to stop the cars, it triggered multiple high-speed pursuits.
One pursuit was called off after the stolen HiAce reached speeds of 160km/h, while the stolen Mercedes van was driven the wrong way down the Pacific Highway, creating an extremely dangerous situation for other motorists. In the aftermath, Dylan Smith recorded videos of himself fleeing from police, boasting about his escape before torching the Mercedes van and being picked up by his mother.
Cody Smith was last seen running into bushland, with police later discovering a rifle on the front seat of his car. Cody Johnson managed to evade capture in the stolen HiAce for a short time but was later found dehydrated by the side of Bucketts Way at Limeburners Creek. After being taken to hospital, he disappeared out a side door. All three men were eventually arrested within the following week.
Sentencing and Judge's Remarks
In Newcastle District Court on Friday, Judge Peter Krisenthal jailed both Smith brothers for their roles in the armed robbery and crime spree. While acknowledging the brothers' backgrounds of significant childhood deprivation and early substance abuse, Judge Krisenthal emphasised the seriousness of the offence.
He described the armed robbery at the campground as a "terrifying ordeal" for the victim, who was "highly vulnerable" being alone in a remote area. "At least one of the firearms was pointed towards his head," Judge Krisenthal noted. While the offenders returned the victim's passport, they took his home, his transport, and all his other possessions.
Dylan Smith was sentenced to a maximum of five years and three months in prison, with a non-parole period of three years and six months. In a letter to the court, he expressed feeling "ashamed" and acknowledged the impact on his victim, stating, "The backpacker guy came over here for a holiday."
Cody Smith received a maximum sentence of five years, with a non-parole period of three years and three months. The judge found insufficient evidence to determine that Cody Smith was remorseful for his actions. Their accomplice, Cody Johnson, is scheduled to be sentenced in February.
