Joel Mark Wayne charged with armed robbery, drugs

A man charged with firing a weapon during an armed hold-up of a service station near Bowen this week, as well as assault, possessing drugs and aggravated domestic violences offences has been remanded in custody.

Joel Mark Wayne, 29, faces 23 charges, including robbery with actual violence while armed, entering premises and committing an indictable offence, three counts of stealing, assault occasioning bodily harm, two aggravated domestic violence offences, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, common assault, two counts of evading police, possessing explosives, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing drug utensils, and failure to dispose of a needle.

A man who allegedly held up a service station employee at gunpoint in Bowen was arrested and had his matter mentioned at Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Monday, July 29.

Joel Mark Wayne, 29, faces 23 charges, including robbery with actual violence while armed, entering premises and committing an indictable offence, three counts of stealing, assault occasioning bodily harm, two aggravated domestic violence offences, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, common assault, two counts of evading police, possessing explosives, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing drug utensils, and failure to dispose of a needle.

Duty lawyer Jay Rose represented Mr Wayne and said there was no application for bail.

“There are 23 charges … the most serious is probably a robbery in which he discharged a firearm,” Ms Rose said.

“I think the defendant may or may not have recently been under the influence of some illicit substances,” she said.

Mr Wayne was in custody and did not appear during the court proceedings.

Joel Mark Wayne, 29, faces 23 charges, including robbery with actual violence while armed, entering premises and committing an indictable offence, three counts of stealing, assault occasioning bodily harm, two aggravated domestic violence offences, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, common assault, two counts of evading police, possessing explosives, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing drug utensils, and failure to dispose of a needle.

A Queensland Police Service spokesperson confirmed the robbery took place in Bowen on July 26.

“Around 1.30am, it will be alleged the man entered a service station on the Bruce Highway and threatened the store employee with a firearm,” the spokesperson said.

“The employee complied, and the man allegedly stole a quantity of fuel and food items before fleeing the scene in a stolen vehicle. The vehicle was allegedly stolen from a Bowen address on July 24,” the spokesperson said.

Ms Rose requested all the charges to be transferred to Bowen as most of the alleged offences occurred there.

The matter will be mentioned again at Bowen Magistrates Court on September 24.