Jayden Conway: Man allegedly behind Subiaco, Perth armed robberies allegedly took photos of stolen jewellery

The man allegedly behind three violent armed robberies in Perth on Thursday is wanted by police in New South Wales, it has been revealed.

Northbridge Magistrates Court on Friday was also told that Jayden Victor Conway did not have any ties to WA, and was therefore an “extraordinarily high flight risk” and not suitable for bail.

It came as the 46-year-old proclaimed his innocence to the courtroom, telling his defence lawyer as well as police prosecutors that he had an alibi for when the first of the three brazen daylight robberies unfolded.

But police allege they found photos of some of the allegedly stolen items on Mr Conway’s phone after arresting him.

They also allegedly found a hammer on him, which police say was wielded during two of the three robberies across Subiaco and the Perth CBD on Thursday.

Mr Conway claimed the only reason he had a hammer when police took him in was because he’d been living in a tent and had needed it to put the “pegs in the ground”.

“I’m not an armed robber. I would never do that to anyone,” he said.

He also disputed claims he didn’t have ties to WA, referencing a new job he’d flown to Perth for several weeks earlier.

“That’s why I came here,” he said.

Mr Conway, who suffers from a heroin and alcohol addiction, also told the court he’d been at a rehab centre at 10.30am on Thursday — about the time Subiaco jewellery store Diamond Collective was targeted.

“There’s no possibility I could’ve been at any jewellery shop,” he said.

It is alleged Mr Conway entered the store on Rokeby Road with his face covered and armed with a crowbar at 10.36am that day.

Once inside, he allegedly locked the door behind him and demanded jewellery and cash from staff, who feared for their safety and complied with his demands.

Mr Conway is alleged to have fled the store on foot with six zirconium rings and $500 cash.

Just under eight hours later, he allegedly struck again, this time at Vintage Cellars in the Perth CBD.

Mr Conway allegedly entered the Hay Street liquor store at 6.26pm, armed with a hammer and wearing a mask and a hoodie.

Police allege he threatened a worker with the hammer, which he allegedly held up in a “threatening manner” and demanded cash. The worker refused and he allegedly fled the shop empty-handed.

Less than an hour later at 7.15pm he allegedly hit up another business — this time a fast food outlet.

It is alleged Mr Conway entered Subway on Hay Street with a hammer, and then grabbed a staff member by the shoulder and demanded cash.

He allegedly fled with $200.

Police swarmed the area with the help of the police canine unit on Thursday night, and Rapid Apprehension Squad detectives arrested Mr Conway at an Adelaide Terrace hotel at 8.10pm.

The court was told police had CCTV footage of each of the robberies, which allegedly captured Mr Conway’s tattoos.

Prosecutors said that given the security vision, and the photos found on Mr Conway’s phone, the likelihood he’d receive a “substantial term of imprisonment”, if convicted, was high.

Mr Conway was refused bail due to the seriousness of the three charges against him — two counts of armed robbery and another count of attempted armed robbery — as well as his flight risk.

The particulars regarding the outstanding warrants Mr Conway is wanted on interstate were not detailed in court.

He was remanded in custody until March 7.