Two men charged over string of armed hold-ups at Sydney pubs
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Two men charged over string of armed hold-ups at Sydney pubs

A man who police say wounded a bar worker with a machete when he robbed a Sydney pub had allegedly nabbed tens of thousands of dollars in a string of armed hold-ups at inner city hotels.

Court documents allege Scott Barrie, 28, amassed more than $60,000 before his seven-month robbery spree ended in his arrest days after the attack at the Golden Barley Hotel in Enmore.

Strike Force Smallgood probed eight armed robberies at hotels in Petersham, Glebe, Chippendale, St Peters, Enmore, Camperdown, Kirribilli and Hunters Hill between October and May.

Geordie Sinclair, 27, was charged in relation to one armed robbery in a string allegedly committed by Scott Barrie, 28.

Geordie Sinclair, 27, was charged in relation to one armed robbery in a string allegedly committed by Scott Barrie, 28.

Photo: Supplied

Mr Barrie was allegedly armed with a black pistol when he tried to break into the Kirribilli Hotel the morning of October 22 before he went on to steal $10,785 from the Kauri Foreshore Hotel at Glebe.

A week later he again armed himself with the gun and took $12,000 from a pub at Chippendale in the early hours of the morning, documents tendered at Newtown Local Court on Friday said.

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Mr Barrie was also charged with stealing $10,000 from a pub at Camperdown and $30,000 from the till of a Hunters Hill hotel in separate hold-ups.

In the last incident of the alleged spree, Mr Barrie was believed to have stolen $12,500 after he brandished the 40-centimetre machete as he entered the Enmore pub about 2am on May 6.

The offender had covered his face when he demanded cash from the staff member at the Edgeware Road premises before fleeing, police said in a statement at the time.

The male employee was treated for minor injuries at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Mr Barrie, 28, and Geordie Sinclair, 27, were charged after police raided homes at Ultimo and Balmain on Friday morning.

Officers seized a replica handgun, MDMA, cannabis, mobile phones and more than $10,000 cash.

Mr Barrie, of Ultimo, was charged with seven counts of robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon and special aggravated break and enter with intent while armed.

He was also charged with robbery in company while armed with dangerous weapon and robbery armed with offensive weapon causing grievous bodily harm.

Mr Sinclair, of Balmain, was charged with acting as an accessory before and after the Chippendale robbery. Both men were charged over the theft of a motorbike from Marrickville.

Mr Barrie did not apply for bail when the pair appeared at Newtown Local Court on Friday.

Neither entered pleas.

In urging Mr Sinclair's release from custody, his defence lawyer said he had been a passenger in the car Mr Barrie had driven the night of the alleged robbery and the case against his client was weak.

But prosecutors said the charges were serious and urged the court to take community safety into account.

Mr Sinclair was refused bail.

Police are continuing their investigations. The men return to court on July 10.

Megan Gorrey

Megan Gorrey is a reporter at the Sydney Morning Herald.

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