Kicks, punches left man bloodied in robbery

A man has appeared in court in relation to a robbery that left a victim bloody.

A teenager has admitted robbing a man in a Whangarei carpark and leaving him bloodied before women attending a meeting helped the victim.

Luke Stowers, 19, appeared in the Whangarei District Court on Monday and admitted aggravated robbery, theft from a car and wilful damage.

Police are looking for two others allegedly involved in the robbery at the Forum North carpark about 9pm on June 3.

The other charges related to Stowers breaking into a car outside the Grand Hotel on Bank St between May 19-20 this year and stealing clothes worth $300.

Stowers accepted a police summary of facts that he and two associates on Water St saw a man walking through a carpark that night. It is alleged the other two took part in kicking and punching the victim while he lay on the ground before Stowers grabbed what he believed was money from a pocket.

While running away, he realised he had actually stolen bank statements and threw them away.

The injured man managed to stumble to the nearby Whangarei Club building where members of the Women's International Newcomers Group (Wings) were wrapping up their monthly meeting.

Police and St John ambulance were then called.

The victim was kept in the Whangarei Hospital for observation for two nights.

Stowers was located later that evening and initially denied having anything to do with the aggravated robbery but admitted his involvement after police made further inquiries.

On the charges of theft from a car and wilful damage, Stowers was arrested after DNA found in the vehicle matched a sample he had given to police in July 2013.

Stowers told police he could not remember breaking into the car because he was drunk but if the blood in the vehicle was his, he must have done it.

He offered to pay for the stolen clothes.

Stowers was remanded in custody to reappear for sentencing on July 7.