A 22-YEAR-OLD man accused of orchestrating five service station robberies across the Hunter is alleged to have used a knife to threaten young men to commit the offences before taking all of the proceeds for himself, court documents state.
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On one occasion, June 6 this year, Glenreagh Payne, 22, of East Maitland, is accused of forcing an 18-year-old to smoke the drug ice by holding a knife to his throat.
He then drove the 18-year-old to the United service station at Muswellbrook, held a knife to his throat again and handed him a syringe filled with tomato sauce and water.
The robbery attempt was unsuccessful and the teenager left empty-handed.
But the next night, Mr Payne is accused of instructing the 18-year-old to commit three armed robberies, all using a syringe, in less than three hours at service stations at Raymond Terrace, Heatherbrae and Maitland.
He is also accused of using a blood-filled syringe and a knife to force a juvenile to commit an armed robbery at the United service station at Islington on June 2.
During each robbery, Mr Payne is accused of standing nearby or acting as a getaway driver before claiming the proceeds.
Mr Payne was arrested on Friday and charged with three counts of armed robbery, two of attempted armed robbery, driving a stolen car and two counts of driving while disqualified.
He applied for release in Maitland Bail Court on Saturday, but it was refused.
His matter was mentioned again in Maitland Local Court on Monday, but it was adjourned to Newcastle on Wednesday.
He has not entered any pleas.
