Bank robbed me for years - robber's excuse | Rockhampton News | Local News in Rockhampton
Bank robbed me for years - robber's excuse
GREGORY William Hinds claims he robbed a Rockhampton bank because "they had been robbing him for years", a court heard yesterday.
The accused Westpac bank bandit made the claim while applying for bail in Rockhampton Magistrates Court after spending almost eight months in custody following his arrest on the day of the crime.
The robbery occurred on December 20, last year.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Shaun Janes said the estimated $2000 the robber fled with had not been recovered.
Senior Constable Janes objected to his release and outlined the facts to Magistrate Maxine Baldwin.
Hinds had allegedly approached the customer service counter, stating he had a gun and demanded that money be placed in a bag.
Senior Constable Janes said Hinds placed his hand down the bag and the cashier believed it to be a gun.
"She got a calico bag and placed an unknown amount of cash in it, believed to be about $2000," he said.
Senior Constable Janes said Hinds took the bag, but was later located on the Fitzroy riverbank.
"He told police he wanted to rob the bank because they had been robbing him for years," he said.
"He said he threw the money away and it had not been located to this day."
Yesterday, solicitor Zoe Craven, defending Hinds, said he was a chronic alcoholic who lived in a hostel while in Rockhampton.
She said he was now single, but had previously been married for 19 years and has four grown children.
Ms Craven said if released he had a job with a contractor lined up. But police said they had strong evidence against him including four witnesses and CCTV footage.
Hinds's case has been adjourned since December pending findings from a mental health assessment.
Ms Craven said a psychiatrist had diagnosed him with mixed personality disorder, but said he was fit to plead in court.
The charge proceeded by way of full hand-up committal yesterday and the matter will be listed for trial in the Rockhampton District Court at a later date.
Ms Baldwin refused bail yesterday based on the strength of the prosecution case.
"If released he may relapse to alcohol and commit further offences," she said.
Hinds has also been charged with assaulting and obstructing police on April 9 while in custody at Capricornia Correctional Centre.
He indicated he would plead not guilty to the two charges and this matter was set for summary hearing on September 26.
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