Thomas Hoare pleads guilty to campsite gun theft

A Curlewis man held a knife to a man’s throat during a campsite robbery as his teenage co-accused taunted the victim, court documents reveal.

Thomas Hoare outside the Geelong courthouse in May 2023.

A Curlewis man held a knife to a man’s throat and stole his gun in a midnight campsite robbery, court documents reveal.

Thomas Hoare fronted the County Court at Geelong on Friday where he pleaded guilty to robbery, theft of a firearm, and possessing a firearm as a prohibited person.

Hoare, then aged 22, and a co-accused robbed the victim at Dollys Creek campground, 20km north of Meredith, on October 28, 2023, according to court documents released to the Geelong Advertiser,

The victim had arrived at the campsite on October 27 and had gone to bed for the evening in his swag when he was approached by Hoare and his then-18-year-old co-accused just after midnight.

The pair asked if the victim had any beers or firewood, then went through his Esky before leaving when he said he didn’t have any.

Five minutes later, the victim had put his Esky in the back of his car and was sitting in the driver’s seat when Hoare and his accomplice came over.

Hoare reached across the victim, grabbing a knife from the passenger seat and held it to the victim’s throat, according to court documents.

“This didn’t need to happen,” Hoare told the man, court documents state, while his co-accused rifled through the victim’s glovebox and car, telling him to “just go” and “pack your stuff up”.

While the victim was packing up his belongings, Hoare found the victim’s 0.22 rifle in his boot.

At some point during the robbery, the victim sustained “a laceration” to his hand, court documents state, before he was able to drive off at about 2.20am.

The thieves ultimately took the gun and a scope, cash and two pocket knives.

Hoare was arrested less than a fortnight later on November 7, according to court documents.

Police used a fingerprint he left on the victim’s car, as well as telecommunications data and CCTV footage, to link him to the crime.

Hoare gave a no comment interview despite the stolen gun being found at his home.

An analysis of the contents of Hoare’s phone revealed videos of the robbery, including the victim’s driver’s licence being filmed, and another video of Hoare rifling through, and stealing about $200 from the victim’s wallet.

In one video, Hoare’s accomplice tells the victim: “I got your plates, I got your f--king name yeah. Pack your swag up and you can f--king leave, yeah.”

Hoare added: “I’m sorry it had to be this way but” and “now its just costed ya”.

Hoare will be sentenced at a date to be fixed.

His teenage co-offender received a diversion in the Geelong Magistrates’ Court.

Originally published as Thomas Hoare pleads guilty to campsite gun theft