A young girl will be acknowledged for her brave actions after her mother was tied-up and threatened with a knife in the family home.
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Valentina Costa, daughter of former NSW treasurer Michael Costa, will receive an official NSW Police Certificate of Appreciation for her presence of mind during the horrifying incident that occurred three years ago.
Seven-year-old Valentina will receive her certificate at Maitland police station today.
Inspector Glenn Blaine commended the child, who was four years old when she dialed triple-0 and held the phone to her bound mother’s ear so she could call for police help.
Inspector Blaine said Deborah Costa was with her two children, Valentina and two-year-old Mikos, when a masked man appeared inside the family’s Millfield home on the morning of April 14, 2011.
Mr Costa had left the Wollombi Road property about an hour earlier.
The man, Mark Noel Sheehan, threatened Ms Costa with a 35cm blade and tied her to a chair by the wrists and ankles.
He demanded money before he fled the scene in the family’s car with bottles of wine and Ms Costa’s wallet.
Valentina immediately picked up a phone and dialed triple-0 when Sheehan drove away.
Inspector Blaine said the young girl showed bravery in being able to follow Ms Costa’s instructions after seeing a masked man tie her up and threaten her.
“Her mum told her to do something and she did it,” he said.
“[Sheehan] tied her up while both young children were still there, but they weren’t injured.”
The incident received national media coverage at the time and police arrested Sheehan at a campsite near the Costas’ property on May 3, 2011.
He was sentenced to eight years jail after he was convicted of aggravated break and enter and depravation of liberty.