AN ARMED bandit who allegedly held up two Canberra banks within an hour of each other on Wednesday had terrorised staff at the Hughes Post Office during a foiled robbery just days earlier, the ACT Magistrates Court heard yesterday.
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Police have accused Curtin man Michael Virgil Tresize, 42, of using a knife and threatening to kill an employee during an attempted robbery at the Hughes Post Office on Monday.
Tresize, unemployed, applied for bail yesterday morning but it was refused and he was remanded in custody to face court again later this month.
Police said Tresize had entered the Hughes Post Office on Monday and demanded money from a male staff member before scuffling with him, leaving a 5cm cut on the man's arm.
He left empty handed, after failing to get any money.
On Wednesday Tresize allegedly walked into the Commonwealth Bank branch at Fyshwick and told a teller he had a firearm and that there was bomb in his briefcase.
Tresize allegedly told her not to raise the security screens or the bomb would go off but the female employee refused to hand over any money and he left the bank empty-handed.
Detective Sergeant Richard Gough told the court that Tresize struck again about 30 minutes later at the CPS Credit Union at Manuka, where he allegedly passed a note to a bank staff member, threatening to detonate a bomb if money was not handed over.
He was given about $1055 and the staff member kept the note, which Sergeant Gough said had revealed two palm prints.
The court was told police executed a search warrant at Tresize's home, where they found items allegedly connected to the offences, included clothing, cash and the a knife handle.
They also allegedly found a replica firearm.
Sergeant Gough said police opposed bail because they believed he could commit further offences.
However, a defence solicitor for Tresize said he was the primary carer for three children, would be willing to comply with strict bail conditions and had not committed serious offences recently.
Prosecutor Ben Allison said Tresize had a lengthy criminal history that included armed robbery offences.
Magistrate Karen Fryer refused bail and also rejected a separate application for Tresize to be taken, in custody, to a hospital or mental health facility. She said those facilities would not be sufficiently secure and his mental health could be assessed while he was in custody.
The case was adjourned until September 30.
