Man charged with North Island crime spree

Michael Campbell faces multiple charges, including robbing a woman of an Armani bag. Photo/File

A man has appeared in the Whakatane District Court on a more than a dozen charges including the aggravated robbery of the Petone TAB and robbing a Palmerston North woman of her Armani bag.

Michael Campbell, a 36-year-old with a Whakatane address, faces 15 charges from alleged offences in the lower North Island and Whakatane.

No plea was entered on any of the matters and Campbell was remanded in custody to reappear in the Whakatane District Court on August 30 via an audio-visual link.

From a Whakatane incident on April 17, Campbell faces charges of male assaults female, breaching a protection order and the theft of $85 petrol.

From June 21 in Petone, Campbell has been charged with aggravated robbery and assault with intent to avoid detection. From July 12 in Lower Hutt, Campbell faces charges of dangerous driving, failing to stop and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

On July 31 and in Levin, police alleged Campbell obtained by deception a $130 taxi fare.

From August 11 and in Palmerston North, Campbell has been charged with robbing a woman of her Armani handbag and attempting to use a credit card and, on August 12, the theft of a motor vehicle.

He also faces three charges of breaching release conditions.

Lawyer Jonathan Kaye told the court he was not in a position to advance the charges and said his client wanted to make a bail application but had been instructed bail was not likely.

Judge Louis Bidois said he could say, without any hesitation, a bail allocation would be refused.