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A 17-year-old schoolboy charged with two bank robberies is in custody for a week after being refused bail in Christchurch District Court today.
John Anthony Fraser, of Spreydon, seemed downcast in the dock when he heard he was to stay in custody, the Christchurch Court News website reported.
His parents were in the No 1 court's public seats and his mother was distressed as her son was led back to the cells.
Fraser has been charged over incidents at two Christchurch banks yesterday, when the police say an imitation Glock pistol - actually an airgun - was shown to tellers inside a backpack.
Fraser is charged with assaulting one woman teller with intent to rob her while armed with the weapon, and robbing a male teller of $700 cash.
Police allege the first incident was at the ANZ bank on the corner of Cathedral Square and Hereford Street, and the second was 30min later at the Westpac bank on Riccarton Road.
They allege he travelled between the banks on a motorcycle, and say notes were written demanding cash at each bank.
Duty solicitor Michael Starling said Fraser was "a suitable candidate for bail, given his age".
But Judge John Bisphan described the charges as "particularly serious and particularly worrying".
Fraser is due to appear again on October 7. He has entered no pleas.
Apart from attending school, he does part time work. He was wearing a jersey with a supermarket logo as he stood in the dock.
- NZPA
