It's me! Fugitive on TV gives up

A Tauranga man who went on the run after a P-fuelled spree of offences - including stealing more than $10,000 of property - handed himself in after seeing his face on the TV programme Police 10-7.

Jeremy Millar, 29, now living in Papamoa Beach, pleaded guilty to one charge each of burglary, driving while suspended and theft, two charges each of receiving and shoplifting and four charges of breach of district court bail in Tauranga District Court yesterday.

The spree of offences were committed across Auckland in November and December.

That included him breaking into the Luna Apartments and stealing more than $5000 of property, receiving a stolen $4500 Subaru, stealing a $2200 mountainbike and two $70 petrol driveoffs. Millar also stole a set of vehicle licence plates and failed to turn up to court four times.

Lawyer Cate Andersen sought bail for Millar, pending sentencing.

Ms Andersen said Millar had been battling a severe methamphetamine addiction at the time but had stopped taking drugs since moving to the Western Bay.

She said Millar had been living with his mother in Papamoa Beach when he handed himself into police late last week after seeing himself on the television show Police 10-7.

Ms Andersen said Millar was finding his time in prison a "terrifying experience" and would fully comply with any bail conditions imposed, even if it meant a 24-7 home curfew. But Judge Louis Bidois told Millar he was not prepared to take the risk that he might reoffend and any time spent on remand would be taken into account at sentencing.