A FORMER Warrnambool man yesterday pleaded guilty to committing an armed robbery at a city BP service station in December 2011.
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Travis Shane Carman, 35, of Midlands, Western Australia, appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates Court yesterday for a contested committal hearing.
That hearing did not go ahead.
Instead Mr Carman pleaded guilty to armed robbery and being a prohibited person possessing a registered firearm. The case was adjourned until a further hearing in the Warrnambool County Court on July 29.
In September last year, two Warrnambool detectives travelled to Western Australia.
One of the reasons was to try to locate Mr Carman.
He could not be found, but the detectives were able to get in touch with some members of his family.
Police then issued a press release and photo-fit image of Mr Carman to The Standard and through Crime Stoppers in Western Australia in early December.
Mr Carman handed himself in to police in WA soon after.
On December 12 last year Warrnambool detectives again travelled to WA and charged Mr Carman with armed robbery.
He was also charged with burglary and theft in relation to the theft of two firearms at Crossley on December 7, 2011 — the night before the alleged BP armed robbery.
The theft charge was yesterday withdrawn by the prosecution. Mr Carman remains in custody and did not apply for bail.
Police officers believed Mr Carman was working as a shearer in towns close to Perth before he was arrested and staying in the Caversham area when not shearing.
Police allege the armed robbery was committed at 5.10am on December 8, 2011, at the BP service station in west Warrnambool and that the female service station manager was left badly shaken.