Bendigo Bank bandit Jason Wayne Comer jailed over ‘terrifying’ daylight heist in Geelong West

A gun-toting Corio man who held up a bank has copped a lengthy jail term, as a court heard he committed at least 20 armed robberies across two states.

Jason Wayne Comer. Picture: Facebook.

A man who terrified bank staff during a Geelong West armed hold-up and fled to Queensland with $2500 in coins has been locked away for at least a decade.

On Wednesday, Jason Wayne Comer, 50, was sentenced to 13 years’ jail – 10 years non-parole – for the brazen heist after being found guilty by a Geelong jury in April. It can now be revealed that Comer pleaded guilty to a number of minor offences stemming from the incident.

On April 30, 2021, Comer went into Bendigo Bank’s Geelong West branch, appearing “frightening and desperate” as he demanded money and brandished a gun.

Comer took off with $2500 in coins, and later drove to Queensland to sell the car he used in the heist.

Police at the scene of the robbery in 2021. Picture: Alison Wynd

County Court judge Michael Tinney denounced Comer as “remorseless” and a “a real menace to the community” during his sentencing remarks.

Judge Tinney told the court “terrifying” and had a “profound” impact on the victims, with one teller describing how “all her training went out the window” and she froze as she stared down the barrel of Comer’s gun.

“She thought she was going to die,” judge Tinney told the court, noting the incident had left the woman with deep psychological scars and resulted in the loss of her job and diagnoses including PTSD and depression.

“Her life changed forever, it’s been something of a nightmare for her,” judge Tinney said.

Another Bendigo Bank staff member was distressed in court as she testified about the robbery.

“That was not a product of nerves giving evidence … it was her recalling your crime, still a traumatic event even many years later,” judge Tinner said.

Comer knew his actions would be frightening and is a seasoned armed robber with an extensive criminal history, the court heard.

“Your conduct … was designed to strike fear,” judge Tinney told Comer.

The court heard Comer was jailed in 2006 for eight armed robberies in Victoria in 2005.

Upon his release from prison, Comer went to NSW and committed another 12 armed robberies before being jailed again in 2012.

In one hold up, Comer was enjoying a “pleasant day at the beach” with his family in Warrnambool, before he left to rob a bank.

Judge Tinney slammed Comer’s continued offending, telling the court he had “no embarrassment or shame” regarding his criminal history and “can’t or won’t learn”.

“You’ve been sent to prison on a number of occasions and you continue to offend on release; you have received sizeable sentences and yet they don’t deter you,” judge Tinney said.

Judge Tinney told Comer he may have had an “unenviable upbringing” but he had “bleak” prospects of rehabilitation.

“How many victims have since then looked down the barrel of a firearm, or imitation firearm held by you?” judge Tinney said.

Comer has already served 1146 days of pre-sentence detention, which will be subtracted from the sentence.

Originally published as Bendigo Bank bandit Jason Wayne Comer jailed over ‘terrifying’ daylight heist in Geelong West