The incredible split-second decision a university student made that helped police nab an armed couple who robbed her on campus Mathematics and science student had finished exam when he was approached Scott Burrell and Caitlin Smith told the student to hand over phone and wallet Student struck up a deal with the thieves and told them he would take to an ATM Negotiations were part of a cunning plan as there were CCTV cameras at ATM By Ben Hill For Daily Mail Australia Published: 00:21 BST, 18 April 2019 | Updated: 00:26 BST, 18 April 2019 Viewcomments An armed couple who robbed a university student were caught out by a quickly thought-out plan. The 18-year-old mathematics and science student had just finished an exam at the University of Newcastle in New South Wales about 8pm on May 31, 2018 when he was approached by Caitlin Smith, 27, and her fiancee Scott Burrell, 33. Burrell was armed with a knife and told the student to hand over his phone and wallet, the Newcastle Herald reported. The 18-year-old mathematics and science student had just finished an exam at the University of Newcastle when he was approached by Caitlin Smith (right), 27, and her fiancee Scott Burrell (left), 33 The student struck up a deal with the armed robbers and said he would take them to an ATM at the university but said he would only be able to withdraw $150. Pictured: Caitilin Smith The student struck up a deal with the armed robbers and said he would take them to an ATM at the university but said he would only be able to withdraw $150. The negotiations were part of a cunning plan - the student knew there would be CCTV cameras near the ATM to catch the thieves. A snag occurred when Burrell saw that the student had $3000 in his bank account, and double the amount demanded to $300. 'We know where you live, we don't want to have to come to your house,' Burrell told the student. The student told the couple how to leave the university, leading them past more CCTV cameras. Burrell was later arrested, and told police he ran into the student who asked him where he could find a brothel. The negotiations were part of a cunning plan - the student knew there would be CCTV cameras near the ATM to catch the thieves. Pictured: The University of Newcastle Burrell said he and Smith negotiated for her to perform 'sex acts' on the student for $300. In a second police interview, Burrell confessed to the armed robbery. Burrell was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison with a non-parole period of two years and three months in the Newcastle District Court on Monday. Smith was jailed for three years with a non-parole period of two years. Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility