Manager admits robbing own bank

Mark Scott

A former United States marine and Gulf War veteran who became a Wellsford bank manager yesterday pleaded guilty to robbing his own bank - but not before criticising the speed of the court system, asking about a light-plane crash in New York and accusing police of theft.

In a depositions hearing in the North Shore District Court, Mark Andrew Scott and partner Vanessa Ada Scott entered last-minute guilty pleas to a charge of aggravated robbery and two of kidnapping after a bungled hold-up of the Wellsford Bank of New Zealand in June.

The charges each carry a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.

Mark Scott went to work early on the day of the robbery and left a side door open for Vanessa Scott and accomplices Richard Simon Cowell and Lewis Blackwood-Manukau to get in.

Two female employees were bound during the robbery but Mark Scott was left free to show the robbers to the money before being bound and left on the floor.

BNZ employee Deborah Poa was struck in the face by one of the robbers when she made a break for the front door. Her escape attempt attracted the attention of a passerby, who contacted police.

Blackwood-Manukau and Cowell were caught outside the bank and Vanessa Scott was formally charged - with her partner - that day.

More than $136,000 was taken in the robbery, of which $2860 has not been recovered. The Scotts used $370 to buy groceries after the robbery.

Yesterday's admissions came as the day-long hearing was near to a close.

Ms Poa told the court she had never trusted Mark Scott.

"[There was] just something about him. One minute he would be all calm ... the next, all aggressive."

The Scotts seemed relaxed yesterday morning, but Vanessa returned after lunch upset. Mark, too, was emotional, at one point shouting at justices of the peace Diane Rosenbrook and Elaine Utting when it appeared proceedings would have to adjourn part-heard.

He began swearing when it seemed momentarily the hearing would be postponed until December.

"Two months here, two months there ... all that bull ... you know?"

After another adjournment, the pair returned to court and pleaded guilty to all the charges.

Mark Scott asked media representatives for news of a light-plane crash in New York while signing off his confession.

As the pair were taken back into custody, Mark Scott accused one of the case officers of stealing a silver pin from one of his jackets, which had been seized as an exhibit.

They return to court on Tuesday with Cowell and Blackwood.