Ballina banks allegedly held up by Steven Kelly wielding a toy gun

A man has been charged after allegedly threatening bank employees with a toy gun on the NSW far north coast.

A 36-year-old man was arrested and charged after he tried to hold up two banks in Ballina with a toy gun.

A Ballina man was charged after allegedly threatening bank employees with a toy gun on the NSW far north coast.

Steven Kelly faced Ballina Local Court on Thursday after being charged with two counts of intimidation.

Police state the 36-year-old entered a bank branch on River St, Ballina about 11am on Thursday with a toy gun stuffed down his pants waistband.

The man allegedly accused staff of giving all his money away before turning away to leave.

Police will allege that as he exited, he turned back towards staff and threatened to shoot the legs of one of the employees.

The alleged offending took place on River St, Ballina. Picture: Google Maps

“As he made the threat, he has raised his shirt revealing what the employees believed to be a firearm, secreted in his waistband,” police said in a statement.

Kelly then strolled across the road and entered another financial institution claiming he had money with them that he allegedly did not according to staff who were aware he was not one of their customers.

“During this interaction he again lifted his shirt revealing a black and blue coloured object resembling a firearm, tucked into his waistband.

“He then left the location and was a short time later located by Police.”

No one was reportedly injured.

Police located Kelly shortly after on the same street with the black/blue coloured fake toy firearm concealed in his waistband..

Kelly was arrested and taken to Ballina police station.

In court on Friday Karen Stafford refused Kelly bail with the case adjourned to January 23, 2025.

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