James Hind appeared in a County Court sitting in Ballarat on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to three counts of armed burglary.

Crown prosecutor Justin Lewis told the court Hind had allegedly been “recruited” by a man he had known for a number of years to commit an armed burglary in the early hours of March 30.

Mr Lewis said the man had two days prior allegedly arranged to buy two cars which were used to drive to a petrol station on the day of the armed robbery to form part of an alibi.

The men then changed clothes and drove to the Blue Bell Hotel around 1am, Hind armed with an axe handle and the co-accused with a gun. The co-accused made multiple attempts to enter the building before the men kicked open a door.

Hind covered the entryway to the door while the co-accused pointed his gun at a staff member and demanded money.

It is alleged Hind also made demands for the gaming keys and a wallet from another two staff members.

The two men left with $2450 of which Hind received $200.

The court heard the co-accused fled interstate before being arrested and extradited back to Victoria.

Hind initially denied any involvement in the armed robbery, before deciding to contact investigators and telling them the co-accused had threatened him to commit the offence.

Hind’s defence barrister, Simon Kenny, said his client was using ice every day.

“...(Hind) didn’t care about anything,” he said.

Mr Kenny said Hind was frightened of the co-accused and at once stage got cold feet. He argued Hind’s involvement was much less than the co-accused.

“He didn’t acquire the gun, didn’t acquire the cars and he didn’t plan the offence,” he said. 

Mr Kenny said Hind was clearly someone who needed drug treatment and asked the judge to consider a non-crushing jail term.

Hind will be sentenced on December 9.