Sam Doble, 34, is facing 12 charges – the most serious of which are possessing chemicals with the intention to traffic and being a prohibited person possessing an unregistered firearm.

He pleaded guilty to all charges except two – possessing barbiturates and possessing methorphan – in the Bendigo Magistrates Court yesterday.

Doble was arrested in May 2010, after police raided an old shed and truck yard at 174-176 Mollison Street, Kyneton.

It is alleged that when police entered the property they found Doble sitting at his computer researching chemicals while a clandestine laboratory was bubbling in the next room.

Police said they were confident the drug Doble was producing was PMA – a designer drug that has caused multiple deaths worldwide.

Doble was originally charged with two counts of drug trafficking, but those charges were dropped yesterday.

Doble, who now lives in Ocean Grove, was bailed to appear at the Bendigo County Court on June 18.