AN ARMED robber who used a crowbar to threaten staff at a city supermarket last night before making away with a large amount of cash has pleaded guilty in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court today.
The 36-year-old Mount Gambier man entered the IGA supermarket on Swallow Drive at around 6pm and stole $1100 from the store.
Several witnesses at the scene provided statements to police regarding the man’s appearance.
After reviewing security camera footage, the prosecution stated that the video evidence “corroborated” the witness’ account of the man’s appearance.
The man appeared in police custody in court and pleaded guilty to one charge of aggravated robbery.
He admitted the offending at the earliest opportunity, however questions were raised in court over the man’s mental health.
The defendant’s lawyer said it was unlikely her client would have a mental health defence due to the fact the offending was pre-meditated and there were no indications the man was “delusional”.
The amount of cash could not be located by police with the defendant’s lawyer telling the court her client didn’t know where the money was.
“He believes he may have lost it on the way home,” she said.
She said her client also denied using drugs, despite the prosecution stating that there was an ice pipe found in the man’s home when he was arrested.
Despite pleading guilty, the defendant still made an application for bail after raising concerns that he would not be able to find anyone to look after his pets while in custody.
Magistrate Teresa Anderson said there was no presumption in favour of bail due to the defendant pleading guilty.
She was not prepared to release the defendant on bail due to the seriousness of the offence.
He was remanded in custody until the next Mount Gambier District Court circuit in October.
The man’s identity was suppressed by the court for seven days restricting The Border Watch from publishing any information which could lead to his identification.
This incident is the second armed robbery at the Swallow Drive supermarket this year after a man threatened staff with a knife on June 16.
That robbery took place at around 7pm when a man wearing a black balaclava and armed with a knife entered a store on Swallow Drive and demanded cash.
