Magistrate Tony Murray told Anita Faye Hornsey in Albury Local Court yesterday she was “one short step from a jail sentence” after telling police her partner had been at home at the time of the robbery.

Hornsey, 37, told police her partner Wayne Yates, 38, was at their then-home at Wahgunyah looking after her child, on May 6 last year.

But Yates was in a Corowa car park, where at 6pm, he robbed the cafe owner of about $1600 as she walked to her car.

Yates escaped down an alleyway and a witness saw a maroon Commodore being driven away, but did not see Yates get in the car.

He last month pleaded guilty to the robbery and is awaiting sentencing in the District Court.

Hornsey was interviewed four days after the offence, when she told police Yates was at home while she was in Corowa with her son.

Forensic evidence identified Yates and detectives executed an interstate search warrant on the Wahgunyah house about 10.20am on May 14.

Hornsey pleaded guilty to hindering the apprehension of a person who had committed a serious offence, and concealing the offence of another person.

A report tendered to Albury Court yesterday said her lying was “poor judgment” and a belief Yates was innocent.

But after her police interview, Hornsey had realised Yates’ role in the matter and had then co-operated fully with police, even urging Yates to come forward and submit to DNA testing.

Prosecutor Andrew Hanshaw said this had helped police because Yates had later made “full and frank” admissions about the robbery.

Mr Murray convicted Hornsey and sentenced her to 300 hours of community service.