A Mount Maunganui man has been sentenced to four years and nine months jail after being found guilty of beating and robbing two French tourists.

Che Teraumate Bridger, 25, was sentenced in Tauranga District Court today after being found guilty by a jury of two counts of aggravated robbery at a trial in December 2013.

Che Bridger has been sentenced to four years jail.

According to the Crown, Bridger and his cousin Bo Rawiri, 26, picked up two French tourists hitchhiking along State Highway 2 at Te Maunga on July 7, 2012.

They drove to the abandoned Shell service station near the Welcome Bay turnoff on SH2 where the two French men were then assaulted. Money was demanded from the pair before they were attacked and robbed of most of their possessions.

One of the tourists, who has been granted name suppression, said he was sworn at and threatened by the driver who then began hitting him, while Rawiri, who was the passenger in the car, assaulted the second tourist.

Rawiri, who is already serving a two-year jail sentence after admitting his role in the assault and robbery, gave evidence against Bridger at his trial, and told the court Bridger was the driver of the vehicle.

At the trial the Crown presented evidence showing CCTV footage showing two vehicles fitting the description of that used in the robbery driving through the Bayfair roundabout minutes before the incident.

The tourists were also able to provide a description of the vehicle later identified as Bridger's mothers.

Bridger, who denies any involvement, was found guilty by a jury on both counts of aggravated robbery.

Bridger's lawyer Tony Balme told Judge Peter Rollo in court today his client remains firm on his stance of not accepting the jury's verdict.

The Judge told Bridger that while he can maintain his innocence he is sufficiently satisfied with the jury's verdict.

Judge Rollo began sentencing at four years but told Bridger his sentence would be longer than Rawiri's as he had prior convictions and was on parole at the time. He added nine months and ordered Bridger to pay $1500 reparation to his victims on his release from prison.