A man who allegedly held up a Castlemaine service station with a syringe on Tuesday has faced court charged with armed robbery.
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James Dibben McLennan, 42, faced a total of six charges in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, which also included aggravated burglary and theft.
Police allege Mr McLennan entered the Caltex service station on Johnstone Street on Tuesday night, armed with a syringe, stealing cigarettes, a cigarette lighter, a milk drink and the service station attendant’s phone, valued at a total of $540.
The offending allegedly began when Mr McLennan burgled a residential property in Greensborough earlier that day, stealing a purse, laptop bag and the keys to a Mitsubishi Lancer.
After allegedly also stealing the Lancer, valued at $10,000, Mr McLennan then allegedly used the victim’s credit card to obtain almost $90 in cash.
Mr McLennan’s defence cousel Robert Timms told the court his client had “many, many custody management issues” including mental health complaints and an intellectual disability.
He said Mr McLennan was also suffering from injuries sustained the previous day, including broken ribs and a stab wound to his neck which required urgent attention.
Mr Timms said his client was “on a plethora of medication”, including for schizophrenia and pain management, none of which he had access to since being taken into custody.
He said Mr McLennan was in “a precarious position” in terms of his mental health and requested he be transferred out of police custody as soon as possible.
“They have given me none of my medication,” Mr McLennan told the court, appearing via video link from his cell.
Magistrate Sarah Leighfield remanded him in custody to face court for a committal mention on August 16 and recommended he be transferred out of police cells as soon as possible in order for his medical issues to be addressed.