Jamie Gear’s bail denied after knife crime spree in Bundaberg

He’s accused of going armed to cause fear 18 times – including allegedly terrorising a woman at a Queensland hospital. But despite his “atrocious history” this defendant has still made a bid for bail.

Jamie Cameron Gear. Picture: Facebook

An alleged knifeman behind a string of “absolutely frightening” armed confrontations has been refused bail.

Jamie Cameron Gear appeared in Bundaberg Magistrates Court via video link from Maryborough Correctional Facility on Thursday.

As details about his alleged crimes between May 3 and 4 were read out, Magistrate John McInnes told Mr Gear the public would refer to him as “a knife wielding maniac.”

Mr Gear is charged with one count of deprivation of liberty- unlawfully detain/confine, robbery with actual violence/armed/in company/wounded/used personal violence, assaults causing bodily harm, threatening violence by words or conduct, threatening violence- discharge firearms or other act, three counts of stealing after previous conviction, 18 counts of going armed so as to cause fear, and three counts of enter premises and commit indictable offence.

His lawyer, Ryan Dwyer, told the court Mr Gear’s younger brother was undergoing his second round of chemotherapy treatment at Queensland Children’s Hospital and was at risk of becoming terminal.

He requested bail so his client could live with his father and support his brother.

Mr Dwyer also laid out in his submission that there was uncertainty regarding whether the incident which led to Mr Gear’s armed robbery charge was indeed a robbery.

Jamie Cameron Gear. Picture: Facebook

He told the court Mr Gear said to the young victim involved in the alleged robbery, “Bro I’m not going to hurt you.”

Magistrate McInnes compared that statement to another well-known phrase: “Give me the money and nobody gets hurt.”

He said it seemed to him that the incident was a robbery and when he started reading the information provided, he considered the incident could have been “a drug deal gone wrong.”

“Whatever it is, it’s unwelcome behaviour,” the Magistrate said.

In Mr Dwyer’s submission, police could not confirm whether Mr Gear was or was not armed at the time of the offending.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Vikki Kennedy-Grills told the court numerous victims explained the events on May 4, each saying he was armed with a knife.

“Must’ve been absolutely frightening and disgusting for those victims,” Sergeant Kennedy-Grills said.

Jamie Cameron Gear will face court again on September 24th. Picture: Facebook

The prosecutor told the court of Mr Gear’s “atrocious history” – all 26 pages of which were presented.

She said he received a sentence for deprivation of liberty in 2020 and for another robbery offence in 2018, he received 18 months' imprisonment and had several drug and property offences under his belt.

Sergeant Kennedy-Grills told the court while Mr Gear was at hospital, he had threatened a person that he was going to stab her.

She noted Mr Gear’s substance abuse issues and that there were indications he was under the influence at the time of the offending.

The court heard that on May 3, Mr Gear had made a boy drive around while he threatened him with a knife.

Magistrate McInnes said, “Your behaviour on the fourth of May was startling but no one was seriously injured.”

He told the court that in order to provide bail, he would have to be convinced Mr Gear was safe to return to the outside world and he had decided he was not.

Bail was refused.

The case is set for mention again on September 24.