"Caught by 'Tattoo' on CCTV: Sports Star with 1.8 Billion Won Prize Money Shocked by Robbery Spree... Held a Syringe to His Mask and Demanded, 'Give Me the Money'"

*This content was translated by AI.

A top-tier Australian jockey was sentenced to prison for a series of armed robberies. Although he covered his entire body during the crimes, he was caught due to a distinctive tattoo captured on CCTV.

The UK's 'The Sun' recently reported that Luke Tarent (32), an Australian-born jockey, was sentenced to four years and six months in prison on charges of three armed robberies.

According to the media, between December last year and January this year, Tarrant committed three robberies using a syringe as a weapon. He broke into the same restaurant twice, stealing 100 pounds (about 180,000 won) each time. He then raided a convenience store, taking 300 pounds (about 540,000 won) and confectionery. He also threatened a convenience store clerk, saying, "Don't make me jump over the counter; just give me the money."

Police faced difficulties in the early stages of the investigation because Tarrant always completely covered his body with a mask, gloves, and long clothing. However, a twist occurred during an unrelated street stop-and-check. Police recognized Tarrant's distinctive tattoo and matched it to the suspect's tattoo on CCTV, identifying him as the perpetrator.

After police searched his home in January and found the clothes he wore during the crimes, he ultimately confessed to all the offenses.

Tarrant was once a star jockey with over 500 career wins. In 2015, riding the champion horse 'Le Chef' in Australia's largest two-year-old race, the Gyeongju Magic Millions Classic, he won and secured prize money of over one million pounds (about 1.8 billion won).

However, his career began to decline after he was suspended for six months for forging medical documents to pass a drug test. He also had prior convictions related to drugs in New South Wales and Queensland regions.

David Cruz, Tarrant's lawyer, argued in court that "he has been using methamphetamine (meth) for weight control, which is common among jockeys." He further pleaded for leniency, stating, "Having lost his mother at age 18, he became dependent on drugs and alcohol after being disappointed by his suspension." Tarrant himself later expressed a desire to return to the Gyeongju racing scene.

However, the court handed down a severe sentence. The judge noted, "Even if this behavior was out of character for him, the seriousness of the crime has significantly escalated," and added, "He systematically targeted vulnerable victims, and one of the victims is still suffering from anxiety symptoms." The court sentenced him to four years and six months in prison, recognizing the 215th days he had already served as part of his sentence.

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*This content was translated by AI.