A Tauranga man who broke into three cars seven years ago has appeared in court after his DNA matched blood left at the scene.
A DNA sample was taken from Newton Craig Lawson, 37, of Pyes Pa after he was caught driving while disqualified for the 16th time on October
7. Police can compel anyone charged with certain crimes to provide a DNA sample.
Lawson was required to do so after he failed to stop for a compulsory police breath test.
He evaded police but was spoken to several days later and charged with failing to stop and driving while disqualified (third or subsequent offence). The DNA sample taken from him was analysed and matched the blood smears Lawson left on the driver's door of one of three cars he interfered with.
The cars had been parked in the garage at Paramount Apartments, Maunganui Rd on December 4, 2004. Lawson was charged with the thefts in November 2011 and appeared in Tauranga District Court yesterday for sentence. He had earlier pleaded guilty to three charges of theft from a car, one charge each of driving while disqualified (third or subsequent) and failing to stop for police.