A Tauranga man accused of committing three aggravated robberies has been remanded in custody.
Thomas Awhio Te Pere, 33, faced three charges of aggravated robbery and one charge of possession of a glass pipe for the consumption of methamphetamine when he appeared in Tauranga District Court yesterday.
The first aggravated robbery charge relates to an allegation that Te Pere robbed the Cameronian Dairy with a claw hammer on July 17 and the next day also held-up the 14th Avenue Dairy with a metal wheel brace.
He is also accused of brandishing a claw hammer at a Greerton Lotto shop assistant about 11am on July 26 before making off with an amount of cash from the till.
Te Pere did not seek bail when he appeared before Judge Stephen Coyle, and the judge remanded him in custody by consent to next appear in the same court on August 8.