Man admits to Vic cafe gun siege

Colin Wade Gower on Thursday admitted holding a woman and her employee hostage in the cafe at Rye, on the Mornington Peninsula, on December 5 last year.

The siege started just before 8am when Gower entered the shop with two loaded handguns, a police summary says.

Police say he forced the cafe manager and her employee to sit, pointing one gun at the boss and telling her she was going to die.

The employee stepped between them, prompting Gower to push her in the shoulder and fall, with the gun discharging into the ceiling.

Gower, 69, allegedly told the women to tape a curtain on part of the window and smashed the manager's phone.

He agreed to release the employee about half an hour after police began negotiations.

But the woman refused to leave, worried about what would happen to her boss.

Gower said he wanted to read the manager a letter, discuss it, and then he would let her go.

The lengthy, handwritten piece was titled "The Ramblings of an Angry Man", court documents show.

Parts of the letter stated: "I told u (sic) if you are nasty to me I will get back at u. I'm to (sic) old to be made a fool of by u so bring it on".

It also said: "Women are heartless for sure. They want equality also want everything else to (sic) so how is that equal."

The two women were released without incident about 3pm.

Police say Gower conducted surveillance of the cafe manager in the lead-up to the siege.

He allegedly told investigators he didn't intend to harm the women, but wanted the manager to listen.

Gower pleaded guilty to five charges in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court, including unlawful imprisonment, making a threat to kill and weapons offences.

Two other charges were withdrawn.

Gower was remanded in custody to reappear in the County Court of Victoria for a plea hearing in May.