According to agreed facts tendered to Wagga Local Court, the woman laughed off the remark, but then saw Pampling go to the backyard and come back a few minutes later carrying a shovel.

“I’ll be back in a minute,” Pampling told the woman who then watched him walk down the street towards the Ashmont Inn.

A few minutes later, Pampling returned and told the woman he had just robbed the bottle shop.

The shocked woman left after watching an agitated Pampling throw the clothes he had been wearing onto the roof.

The following day she took Pampling to the police station where he was arrested and charged with assault with intent to rob while armed with an offensive weapon.

The 32-year-old will be sentenced in Wagga District Court in April after pleading guilty to the offence this week. A pre-sentence report has been ordered.

The agreed facts said a bottle shop worker putting drinks into a fridge about 7.40pm on April 28 last year saw Pampling standing at the counter brandishing a shovel.

“The accused shouted ‘money, money,” the facts said.

The worker refused the demand and then armed himself with a pole with a hook on the end before grabbing the shovel and swinging the pole towards Pampling.

The worker cut his hand in the clash.

Pampling ran off and was chased by a witness but got away.

Pampling also pleaded guilty to an unrelated shoplifting charge.

He stole food worth $8.90 from a supermarket.

In finding the offence proved but dismissing the charge without conviction, magistrate Erin Kennedy noted Pampling had taken the food to feed himself.

“It’s not like he was taking luxury items,” Ms Kennedy said.

She told Pampling if he needed food there were organisations that could help.