St Kilda armed robbery: chef Cameron Watson robbed man whose car had broken down

A man waiting for a tow truck in his broken-down car on a St Kilda street was terrorised and robbed by three men as shocked onlookers called 000. Now, one of the thugs — who was out on bail at the time — has faced court.

Cameron Watson robbed a man who had broken down on a St Kilda street. Source: Facebook

An unemployed, drug-addled chef held up a man whose car had broken down during a brazen armed robbery in front of shocked onlookers in St Kilda.

Cameron Watson, 34, was sentenced in the County Court on September 4 to 223 days in prison — time already served — after pleading guilty to one charge of armed robbery.

Watson was on bail when he and two other men approached victim Joshua Le Broc just before 7pm on January 15 this year.

Mr Le Broc was sitting in his car on Westbury St after it had broken down earlier in the day.

Watson, armed with a crowbar, demanded Mr Le Broc hand over his car keys, phone, a laptop and cash.

Mr Le Broc complied, then Watson and another man struck the roof the car with crowbars and used them to pry open a window.

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Watson demanded his frightened victim get out of the car and open the boot.

The crooks stole a television and fled in a Toyota Corolla.

The armed robbery took place in front of several stunned witnesses who also heard Mr Le Broc calling for help.

Watson was an unemployed chef at the time of the robbery. Source: Facebook

Many of the witnesses called 000 and police were on the scene quickly.

Investigators took forensic evidence including fingerprints which linked Watson to the crime.

Watson, an out-of-work chef who previously had a six-month stint in the navy, wasn’t arrested until January 29 when police collared him in Seymour.

Watson spent six months in the navy. Source: Facebook

Judge Irene Lawson considered Watson’s prospects of rehabilitation as “reasonable”.

“You express appropriate regret and shame for your actions and victim empathy,” she said. “Through your plea you now take full responsibility for your conduct.

“You are now thinking clearly and understand that what you did was wrong.

“You exhibit a level of insight into the impact of drugs upon your mental health and, further, recognise the need for ongoing support and treatment in respect to your mental health.”

Judge Lawson said Mr Le Broc would have been “frightened” by Watson’s “aggressive behaviour”.

The court heard Watson had been advised by his former employer “to take some time off to get yourself sorted” just prior to the offending.

Watson, who also pleaded guilty to commit an indictable offence while on bail, was placed on a two-year community corrections order.

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