One of two men accused of burgling Portofino Restaurant last year, has gone on trial by jury in Gisborne District Court.

Ryland Jackson Franklin, 22, has pleaded not guilty to aggravated burglary.

The Crown alleges he and co-offender Karemoana Emilio Henare, 22, each carrying a knife, entered the restaurant about 1.10am on September 20, last year.

The pair are said to have smashed a rear window to gain access, lowering themselves on to a rangehood then jumping down to the kitchen floor.

They cut through and damaged wires to a till and left open a fridge, which contained about $6000 worth of stock that had to be thrown out due to the risk of a food hygiene hazard.

They left with 16 bottles of Italian wine, 25 blank gift vouchers, and the till containing that day's takings of about $2700 and a float fund.

The business was newly-established. Security cameras had been recently installed but there was no working alarm system.

Henare has since pleaded guilty to his role in the offending and is due to be called as a Crown witness against Franklin.

The restaurant was burgled twice that morning. At about 4am, two women entered through the same window the men smashed earlier. One of them Stormy Francis Waite, 25, has also since admitted the offence. Her alleged co-offender evaded arrest and left the country before being charged.

Yesterday, the jury heard from the officer in charge of the case Sergeant Scott Leighton who confirmed to counsel Leighvi Maynard there was no scientific or forensic-type evidence placing Franklin at the scene.

Nonetheless, police believe he is the co-offender seen with Henare in restaurant CCTV footage.

Franklin has admitted being with Henare at a nearby bar about five hours ahead of the alleged burglary.

He is seen in CCTV footage from that establishment in similar clothing to the figure in question on the Portofino footage.

Police later searched Franklin's house. No items potentially linking to the burglary were found apart from a pair of Converse shoes similar to those worn by the unknown offender at Portofino.

The jury also heard a statement from the restaurant's managing director, which was read into evidence.

The man said he and his wife, who had recently moved to Gisborne for the business, were shaken by the incident.

It made them feel like outsiders in the community and they thought about returning to Auckland.

The trial is expected to finish today.