A jewellery thief, who hit a man in the face with a hammer as he fled the scene, has admitted the charges against him.
Ora Neilson, a 22-year-old Mount Wellington man, appeared in Auckland District Court this morning where he pleaded guilty to counts of theft and aggravated wounding, after an incident at Sylvia Park mall on May 26.
It can now be revealed Neilson was previously jailed for six months over a booze-fuelled joyride in 2012.
He and a friend stole a Subaru, which ploughed through a fence and into the side of a storage shed facility north of Wanganui.
Neilson lost two front teeth in the smash but fled the scene, leaving his injured mate behind.
In last month's incident, Neilson stole $38,551 of jewellery from Michael Hill jewellers before trying to make his escape.
Witnesses said when a Vodafone staff member tried to thwart his getaway, he took a hammer blow to the face.
Police said the Good Samaritan received dozens of stitches to a facial wound but did not need to be admitted to hospital.
Neilson's lawyer Emma Priest said her client was keen to participate in a restorative-justice conference with the victims.
He will apply for bail later this month.
Walker and Hall sales assistant Sam Bhutani described how he saw the incident unfold at rival jewellers Michael Hill as he prepared to open his store.
He said the defendant was finally stopped when someone tripped him up and then pinned him to the ground.
It was the second time Michael Hill had been robbed in a month, Mr Bhutani said.
Detective Sergeant Nick Poland said the shop owner and staff were very thankful to all those who helped arrest the alleged offender.
Neilson will be sentenced in August.