A man sent to jail for robbing a petrol station with a machete just over two years ago has again committed a hold up.
Mitchell Winiata, 21, of Tauranga robbed his local dairy recently - not long after being released from prison for robbing the Gull service station on Hewletts Rd on May 14, 2009. He was jailed for three years on September 29, 2009.
He told police after the latest robbery that he was having money problems so decided to rob Matua Food Market on Tilby Dr.
At 7.30pm on November 24, Winiata got his cousin to drop him off in a cul-de-sac near the shop. With his face covered with a blue T-shirt and wearing surgical gloves, Winiata walked into the store with a carving knife hidden up the sleeve of his hoody.
He approached the man working at the counter and held the knife in his hand until he saw a young boy nearby and place the knife under his hoody.
Winiata demanded cash and the victim removed all the $20 notes from the till.
Winiata then reached over the counter and grabbed the remaining $5 and $10 notes from the till.
The victim's wife called the police and yelled at Winiata as he ran from the shop.
Four teenagers who had not long left the food market saw Winiata running off and heard the victim's wife calling out for help so gave chase in their car.
Winiata was picked up by his cousin a short time later and taken to his uncle's place, where he changed his clothes and disposed of the knife before driving to Gate Pa.
Subsequent police inquiries resulted in Winiata's capture.
He claimed to have received $300 in the robbery which he had spent prior to his arrest, and told police he had forced his younger cousin to drop him off and pick him after the robbery.
Winiata pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated robbery in Tauranga District Court yesterday and was remanded in custody pending sentence on February 14.
He is yet to plead to a charge of aggravated assault relating to the allegation that he brandished a knife at a group of teenagers as he fled the scene.