Abduction admitted rape trial dropped

Former Tauranga firefighter Warren Hales has admitted abducting a woman in Mount Maunganui 17 years ago - forgoing a retrial - and is understood to be on his way home to the Bay.

His u-turn came just before he was about to face a retrial on rape and abduction charges.

The rape charge was dropped yesterday and Hales was released from prison, having already served nine months behind bars.

Hales, along with Mount Maunganui businessman Peter McNamara and two other men whose identities are suppressed, was last year convicted for abducting and raping a 20-year-old woman in 1989.

Hales' appeal for a retrial succeeded this year but appeals from the other three were turned down.

Hale's lawyer Greg King told the Bay of Plenty Times this morning that his client was looking forward to getting on with his life.

``I think he is relieved too that this whole episode is behind him,'' he said.

Because Hales had already served half of the 18-month sentenced for abduction handed down yesterday by Justice Ronald Young, he was now free to go.

Justice Young yesterday accepted Hales was the least culpable of the group.

He was the youngest and had not been involved in the premeditation of the attack.

However, he had stood lookout and had prevented the victim from escaping.

Hales' brother, Steve Hales, told the Bay of Plenty Times he was glad for his brother that it was all over.

``It should never have gone that way in the first place.''