An 18-year-old who allegedly committed two armed robberies told his lawyer his first nights in adult custody have been a "wake-up call", as he seeks bail.
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Jermaine Smith-Proctor faced the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Monday for a bail application hearing, charged with armed robbery, possessing a controlled weapon, and handling stolen items.
It's alleged Smith-Proctor attended a service station on Learmonth Road in Wendouree about 5.15am on Saturday, March 5, producing a 20cm knife and demanding cigarettes from the attendant - he allegedly told the attendant "I don't want to hurt you, but if you don't give me (cigarettes) I can do whatever".
CCTV allegedly shows him fleeing the scene, dropping cigarette packets - using the footage, police were able to identify him, and attended the address to which he'd been bailed in December.
Smith-Proctor was not home, but police allegedly found laptops with Forest Street Primary School stickers on them, believed to be stolen, in his room.
Police then found Smith-Proctor at an associate's house, where they also found clothing that matched the CCTV footage.
He was arrested, and was then also charged with several other offences, including a second alleged armed robbery at the Rumerz Tavern bottleshop in January.
Police allege he was one of four co-offenders, who produced a knife when the attendant tried to retrieve stolen bottles of liquor.
Smith-Proctor and a co-accused allegedly chased the attendant behind the counter, and damaged a door lock trying to get to him.
He's also alleged to have been involved with a shop theft at Stockland Wendouree in January, and was on bail for allegedly escaping custody and resisting police.
Police told the court they held fears Smith-Proctor would continue to offend if bailed again, and potentially interfere with witnesses, as the proposed bail address is in Wendouree.
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Defence lawyer Omar Shabaneh said it was his client's first time in adult custody, which had been a "significant wake-up call", and that "very strict" bail conditions could address any risks of reoffending, noting the long delay Smith-Proctor would face in custody waiting for a further hearing if bail was refused.
He called Smith-Proctor's foster father, who gave an assurance to the court and proposed a surety to follow any bail conditions and immediately report to police if there were any breaches.
The matter was stood down so Smith-Proctor could be assessed for supervised bail by Youth Justice, and will return for a verdict from Magistrate Lance Martin on Wednesday.
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