Teen denied bail — this time

The Kaitaia teenager who police allege was driving the car that crashed into two parked vehicles in Awanui on Monday, was on bail.

It was granted in April, despite police opposition, on charges of assault with intent to rob and wilful damage at the Kaitaia courthouse.

Amaru Tipene was remanded in custody when he appeared before Judge Greg Davis in the Kaitaia District Court on Tuesday facing fresh charges of theft, of petrol from GAS Cooper’s Beach, unlawfully taking a car, dangerous driving and failing to stop. He is due to appear again on Monday on those charges, and for sentence on the earlier matters.

According to police the incident began with a ‘drive-off’ from the GAS service station at Cooper’s Beach. Police from Kaitaia met the car, reported as unlawfully taken in Kaitaia some hours earlier, travelling towards Awanui at Kareponia. The officers turned and followed it, but no actual pursuit was initiated because of the speed it was travelling at, and because police recognised the driver.

The car turned north at the SH10/SH1 intersection but crashed into a parked car, shunting it into a second parked car, and was abandoned in the northbound lane. Three juvenile females were apprehended by police at the scene, and two males after a foot chase over farm land.

The girls and the younger boy have been referred to Police Youth Aid.