Man admits robbing vet

Police at the Brookfield Veterinary Centre. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

One of the trio charged in relation to the armed robbery of Brookfield Veterinary Centre last month has admitted his role in the knifepoint hold-up.

Colin Thomas Borthwick, 23, pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated robbery in Tauranga District Court today.

Court documents revealed that about 5.20pm on July 24 Borthwick and two associates drove to the Centre and made their way to the back entrance.

Covering his face with a balaclava, and armed with a large carving knife and carrying a plastic bag, Borthwick and one of his two associates, also disguised and holding an extendable baton, entered the centre where a female staff member was working alone in a back room.

Brandishing the knife at her, Borthwick demanded the victim open the safe and place about $250 cash and some animal treatment drugs into the bag he was carrying, which she did.

Borthwick and his associate then ran from the centre and jumped into a waiting car driven by the third member of the group and drove away, but their vehicle was stopped by police a short distance away.

Borthwick, who was further remanded in custody by Judge Thomas Ingram, will be sentenced on October 3.

His two alleged co-offenders who also appeared in court today have denied a joint charge of aggravated robbery, and have elected to go to trial.