Banker denies hold-up plot

Former bank manager Mark Andrew Scott and his partner, Vanessa Ada Scott, in court yesterday. Picture / Dean Purcell

A Wellsford bank manager accused of masterminding an attempt to rob his own bank has denied the charges.

Mark Andrew Scott, 39, faces aggravated robbery and kidnapping charges after the June 20 raid on the Wellsford BNZ.

Scott is accused of helping to hatch the plot then pretending to be a victim.

His partner, Vanessa Ada Scott, 27, is also accused of taking part in the robbery, and has pleaded not guilty to the same charges.

The pair appeared before Judge Michael Hobbs in North Shore District Court yesterday, and were remanded in custody for a depositions hearing on October 12.

Vanessa Scott allegedly accompanied co-accused Lewis Blackwood-Manukau and Richard Murray Cowell into the bank at about 8am, as staff including Mark Scott were meeting.

Blackwood-Manukau, 19, and Cowell, 26, have admitted storming the bank's reception area while wearing balaclavas and carrying filleting knives. Cowell also had a water bottle filled with petrol.

Blackwood-Manukau punched one staff member and dragged her behind a counter as she tried to flee.

He bound her hands and feet and put a balaclava over her head.

Cowell bound and threatened another bank worker, who was pregnant.

Police were alerted to the robbery by a passerby, and Blackwood-Manukau and Cowell were quickly arrested.

Mark and Vanessa Scott were arrested hours later.

The $130,000 taken in the robbery was recovered.

Blackwood-Manukau and Cowell have pleaded guilty to kidnapping and aggravated robbery. They are to be sentenced on August 29.