Teenage armed robber refused bail

A 17-year-old Dunedin youth has been refused bail after he admitted the knife-point robbery of a South Dunedin food market.

Despite his lack of previous convictions, Luke Bradley Savigny was highly likely to receive a lengthy prison sentence, Judge Stephen Coyle said.

Savigny appeared before the judge in the Dunedin District Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to a joint charge of aggravated robbery.

His alleged co-offender, a 22-year-old man, was due to appear next week, prosecutor Acting Sergeant Mike Gasson told the court.

He said the robbery was committed just after 9.30am on November 17.

Savigny was outside the Sai Food Market in Prince Albert Rd with his co-accused, the pair having just come from a nearby flat where they decided on a plan to rob the food market owners.

The defendant used a grey T-shirt to cover his face up to eye level and pulled his sweatshirt hood down over his head in an attempt to disguise his appearance.

The alleged co-offender was not disguised but waited in Prince Albert Rd near Victoria Rd to act as a lookout for Savigny, Acting Sgt Gasson said.

Savigny had a large, black-handled knife hidden on him when he approached the front door of the shop, looked inside to check if anyone was there, then walked in, holding the knife above his head.

The victim was behind the counter. Savigny yelled at him, demanding cash and cigarettes. After dropping to the floor, the victim made his way to the living quarters at the rear of the shop and called the police.

The defendant ran around the counter, opened the cigarette cabinet and grabbed eight packets of tobacco. He also grabbed several cans of soft drink as he left the store.

He ran south on Prince Albert Rd and he and his co-accused then ran together along Queens Dr, dropping several of the stolen items as they ran. Savigny also dropped the grey T-shirt he had been using to cover his face.

The pair went to a nearby address in Melbourne St and divided the tobacco between them.

When police spoke to him later, Savigny admitted committing the robbery. He said he did it because he had no money and had felt pressured by the other person.

David More asked for bail for Savigny, who was living at home with his parents, had been complying with strict curfew conditions and was attending a training centre course.

But Judge Coyle said the defendant's personal circumstances were not something he could give great weight to when considering the issue of bail.

There was ''a high likelihood of prison'', the judge said and the term was likely to be lengthy. He remanded Savigny in custody until May for sentence.