A MAN arrested in Bealiba on Tuesday was on the run from South Australian Police after he allegedly carried out a robbery on a pizza store, stealing cash and a car.
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Peter Giordimaina, 34, allegedly drove the stolen car into Victoria before it ran out of petrol near Stawell.
Giordimaina then allegedly carried out a series of crimes in western and central Victoria before he was arrested.
He attempted to get bail in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, but was refused.
Giordimaina has been charged with a string of offences including aggravated carjacking, armed robbery, assault and aggravated burglary.
Constable Michael McAuley, of Central Goldfields CIU, told the court Giordimaina drove into a rural property at Concongella, near Stawell, at 5.20am on Tuesday where he asked for directions.
After receiving directions from the property’s occupant, he allegedly produced a knife and demanded a car and mobile phone, and followed the victim inside her house.
Giordimaina allegedly drove away in the victim’s Holden Captiva, leaving behind an Audi he allegedly stole during a robbery in South Australia.
He drove to a property in Rathscar, near Maryborough, at 6.55am where he allegedly wielded a hammer at a man and demanded the keys to a car.
The property owner had already called police and Giordimaina “panicked”, driving away at a high speed in the Captiva.
The man followed Giordimaina but lost sight of him. The Captiva was spotted dumped in a paddock about 800 metres away after Giordimaina allegedly drove through several paddocks and fences.
The Victoria Police air wing and canine units arrived, but were unable to find Giordimaina.
More than five hours later he was spotted in an open shed a few kilometres away from Rathscar. Giordimaina told the property owner he needed a lift, and was driven to a nearby town.
At 7pm, Giordimaina kicked down the back door of a house in Bealiba and allegedly demanded the keys to a car.
The victim spoke loudly, attempting to get his neighbour’s attention while refusing Giordimaina’s demands. Giordimaina is accused of pushing the man to the ground, causing him to hit his head.
The neighbours heard the commotion and contacted police, who arrived soon after and arrested Giordimaina in the driveway. He had the keys to the last victim’s car.
Giordimaina denied the assault allegations.
During his application for bail, he told the court he had driven to Victoria to “sort things out” and “get a job”.
He said his offending was out of character.
“It’s not really me,” Giordimaina said.
“I f---ed up.”
Constable McAuley said the Audi left at the Concongella address had been confirmed as stolen from South Australia. It is alleged Giordimaina also stole $3000 during the robbery.
“South Australia Police pursued him, that’s what brought him into Victoria,” Constable McAuley said.
Magistrate Megan Aumair found Giordimaina to be an unacceptable risk of committing further offences while on bail, and bail was denied.
He was remanded in custody and will appear in court on October 17.