November 2nd, 2024Jail term follows Bakers Delight, Daylesford, robbery attempt

A Mount Franklin farmer who last year held a knife to the ribs of a staff member at Daylesford’s Baker’s Delight, in an unsuccessful bid to steal money from the business, has this week received a jail term.

At the County Court in Ballarat on Monday Gavan David Vendy, 51, was sentenced after pleading guilty to attempted armed robbery, property damage and illegal firearms possession.

The court had heard that at about 2.45pm on May 11, last year Vendy stood in a laneway near the Daylesford Bakers Delight store and waited for customers who were inside the store to leave.

Once the store was empty of customers Vendy had entered and pulled out a knife, demanding the worker behind the counter open the cash register, the court had heard.

When the staff member refused to do so, Vendy held the knife to her ribs and told her “it is not worth getting hurt”.

He had then jumped the counter and attempted to open the register himself. However he was unsuccessful.

He had then grabbed a phone from another staff member who was calling triple-zero and fled.

The staff member had pursued him into a nearby laneway, where Vendy threw the phone onto the ground, damaging its screen.

He was later arrested at a Mount Franklin property on June 27, last year where police had found an illegally owned air rifle.

Vendy had admitted the offence to the police, and had stated that he had hoped to steal $300 to help his son meet rent.

The court heard the 51-year-old was remorseful for the offending. In the County Court on Monday he was given an eight month prison sentence and was also required to pay a $500 fine and to complete a two year community corrections order.