Mercedes Lee Abbott: Accused bottle shop robbery getaway driver has case thrown out

A teenager accused of being the getaway driver for an alleged robbery at Cellarbrations in Wonthella last year has had her case dropped.

Mercedes Lee Abbott appeared in Geraldton District Court on Wednesday on a charge of aggravated robbery.

The 19-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to reckless driving and driving without a licence and was given a spent conviction and a $1200 fine but pleaded not guilty to the robbery charge.

A court was previously told Abbott had been driving in company with her uncle Chad Holland and a woman, Jasmine Dalgety, on November 12.

Mr Holland and Ms Dalgety exited the car and walked into Cellarbrations together where Mr Holland allegedly took a number of bottles and put them in a shopping basket before trying to leave the store.

Two staff members tried to stop them with one grabbing Mr Holland’s basket, before she was allegedly assaulted, and Ms Dalgety and Mr Holland returned to the waiting car.

The court was told Abbott, who only had a learner’s permit at the time, drove away at speed, crossing to the wrong side of the road and ignoring stop signs.

Her charge of aggravated robbery was discontinued in the District Court on Wednesday.