A LONG Gully man had no recollection of his involvement in an attempted armed hold up of a Marong Road petrol station because of his combined use of ice and GHB earlier in the day, a court has heard.

Tyson Gray, 24, pleaded guilty in the Bendigo County Court on Wednesday to the attempted armed hold up of United Petrol on January 2, along with a drug use charge.

He had brandished a knife during the attempted hold up, which occurred after an alleged drug binge with co-accused Robert May, 36, of California Gully.

The court heard May was attempting to fill their car with petrol at 9pm when the attendant shut off the pump, recognising the two men from an alleged earlier drive-off.

May and Gray entered the store, and May allegedly became “verbally abusive”, demanding cash.

The pair then returned to the car, when May allegedly gave Gray a knife from the boot.

They went back inside and Gray threatened the attendant with the knife. The attendant fled into a safe room and contacted police.

The two men left, but were arrested at 10.50pm in Long Gully and taken to Bendigo Police Station.

In an interview, Gray told police he had no recollection of the attempted hold up. He said the last thing he remembered was drinking alcohol and using ice and GHB at a relative’s house earlier in the day.

A psychoactive drug, GHB can cause amnesia and its effects are enhanced when combined with other drugs.

May refused to be interviewed by police, and also denied his involvement in the incident. He was charged with 16 offences spanning the two days leading up to the attempted armed hold up.

Defence counsel Alexander Patton said the hold up was spontaneous, and May had allegedly played the main role, rather than Gray.

He said Gray had struggled with a long-term alcohol abuse problem, which he developed as a teenager.

“At age 14, he drank a slab of beer every few days,” he said.

The court heard Gray has developed an acquired brain injury due to his alcohol use.

He had been admitted to rehabilitation once, but funding had only allowed him to remain there for eight days.

Judge Paul Lacava said it was unfortunate Gray had not received the help he needed, given his “tragic background” of alcohol and drugs, mental health issues and low cognitive capacity.

“The system cannot cope with the epidemic of alcohol and ice users,” he said.

Sentencing was adjourned to a later date.

May will appear in the County Court on Thursday.