SUSPECT HANDS HIMSELF IN

Man claims he’s just the driver and knows nothing about robbery

A 23-YEAR-OLD man handed himself into police claiming he wanted to speak to officers about alleged traffic offences. However, he was taken into custody and charged with the alleged armed robbery of the Biddeston Store on Friday.

He spent the night in custody before appearing in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court’s Saturday morning callover on charges of entering a premises with intent, armed robbery with personal violence, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and failing to stop on police direction.

Duty solicitor Shane MacDonald told the court his client claimed he had only been driving the car and that he hadn’t known anything about the alleged robbery.

Police claim two men entered the Biddeston Store about 11.30am Friday armed with a knife and hammer and demanded money.

It is alleged the pair fled with a sum of cash and got into a car which drove away at speed.

The car was later found by police in the car park of Kmart Plaza in Kearneys Spring and police claim CCTV camera footage showed three males and a female alighting from that vehicle.

Police investigations into the robbery and the whereabouts of the others were continuing.

POLICE have charged a man in relation to the alleged armed robbery of the Biddeston Store.

Alec Joseph Jensen handed himself into police about 5pm Friday saying he wanted to speak with police about traffic matters.

The 23-year-old was held in custody overnight and appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Saturday on charges of entering a premises with intent, armed robbery with personal violence, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and failing to stop on police direction.

However, his solicitor Shane MacDonald said his client claimed he was the driver and that he hadn’t known what his associates had allegedly done at the store.

Police claim two people entered the store on Toowoomba’s western outskirts about 11.30am Friday armed with a knife and hammer.

It is alleged one of the men threatened the store owner and demanded money.

It is believed the pair fled with a sum of cash and got into a car outside.

A police patrol soon after spotted the vehicle and followed, but the car sped away at about 120kmh, allegedly driving at times on the wrong side of the road forcing oncoming traffic to take evasive action.

The car was found in the carpark of Kmart Plaza in Kearneys Spring about 2.45pm Friday and police claim CCTV camera footage showed three males and a female alighting from the vehicle.

Mr MacDonald said it remained unclear as to his client’s involvement in the alleged matter, though he claimed he had panicked when the others got into the car.

Magistrate Kay Ryan told Jensen that because it was alleged a weapon had been used he had to show cause why his detention was unjustified.

However, Ms Ryan said she was prepared to grant bail on condition Jensen lived with his parents in Kingsthorpe, reported to police three times a week and had no contact with the complainant.

The case was adjourned to the same court on December 2.

Police are still looking for others allegedly involved in the matter.