Norlane man charged for allegedly assaulting Westpac bank teller in Moorabool St

A Norlane man who allegedly assaulted a staff member at a bank has been slapped with a number of charges.

A man who allegedly assaulted a bank teller in broad daylight, leaving other customers in the store fearing for their safety, has been slapped with a number of charges.

On May 14, about 2pm, police allege a 29-year-old man from Norlane entered the Westpac bank on Moorabool St and unlawfully assaulted a 51-year-old man.

The alleged offender is due to face the Geelong Magistrates’ Court on June 3, and is also charged with a number of other offences unrelated to the alleged assault.

The other charges include common law assault, reckless cause injury, aggravated burglary and summary assault of a police officer.

Customer Sharon Skelhorn was in the bank with her elderly mother at the time of the incident, and captured audio of the moments before the alleged unlawful assault occurred.

She said the man sounded “erratic” and “anxious” during the “10 minutes of terror” where he had allegedly demanded money, before clobbering a staff member over the head.

Westpac Geelong on the corner of Moorabool St and Malop St. Picture: Alison Wynd

Ms Skelhorn and her mother were at the branch to organise funeral plans for her stepfather when the appointment took an unexpected turn.

“I didn’t understand what he first said but in the recording it is actually him saying ‘hands up’, all I noticed was everybody stood still,” Ms Skelhorn said.

“We heard a man’s voice but it didn’t alert us that something was happening.

“It was only until he started saying ‘give us some money, give us some money’ that it became something of terror.

“We heard this loud thumping and all I could see was a teller who had been clobbered over the head, and he was staggering over the room, holding his head.”

It is understood the victim sustained minor injuries to his face.

The day after the alleged assault, a security guard was inside the bank, letting patrons in one at a time.

A Westpac spokesman said the safety and security of their staff and customers is their number one priority.

“We take a zero violence approach to aggressive behaviour in our workplaces,” he said.

Originally published as Norlane man charged for allegedly assaulting Westpac bank teller in Moorabool St