Two women tried desperately to stop a Manurewa man stealing a vehicle with a 20-month-old baby asleep inside.
At the High Court in Auckland yesterday Hehi Jessie Bedggood, 39, admitted abducting Jack Hawkeswood, injuring his mother Kelly Hawkeswood and his grandmother Greer Drinkrow, and stealing a three-wheeled mountain buggy on October 8.
He had previously admitted at a district court hearing unlawfully taking the Toyota Rav 4.
Bedggood, represented by Richard Earwaker, made his admissions yesterday as his trial, before Justice Peter Salmon and a jury, was about to start.
He was remanded in custody for sentencing at the end of the month.
According to an amended police summary of facts, Bedggood had run out of petrol on the motorway and was walking along Cavendish Drive in Manukau City.
At the corner of Sharkey St he spotted the Toyota with the engine still running while the owner, Kelly Hawkeswood, was a short distance away.
As he jumped into the vehicle Mrs Hawkeswood grabbed the car door in an attempt to stop him. Her mother, Mrs Drinkrow, also tried to hold the door open. Both were saying that there was a baby inside.
Bedggood put the vehicle in reverse and drove off at speed, causing both women to be thrown to the ground with force.
As he drove into Cavendish Drive, he noticed the baby in the back seat.
According to the summary, this was the first time he knew the baby was in the vehicle.
He continued to the Southmall shopping centre where he took the infant and left him in an alleyway.
According to the agreed summary, Bedggood had detained the child 20 to 30 minutes.
The $32,750 vehicle was later set on fire by unknown people.
Bedggood was never charged with setting it alight.
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