Man accused of taking courier van and throwing Christmas parcels onto roofs

The man allegedly threw Christmas parcels out the window. Photo /123rf

The case of a man who allegedly took off in an unoccupied courier van and threw Christmas parcels out the window around Wainuiomata is going to trial.

Anthony Perry has pleaded not guilty to two counts of theft in relation to the incident late last year.

The 34-year-old also faces a charge of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and another charge of driving while disqualified.

In the Hutt Valley District Court today, his lawyer said Perry did take the van and drive it while disqualified, but that he did not steal the contents.

"He does agree he threw four parcels out and onto the roof of a house on the street that he parked it," the lawyer said.

It's alleged the courier driver left the vehicle on December 13 to deliver a package, and returned to see Perry driving off with 95 packages in the back of the van.

After throwing four of the packages out of the window, he then allegedly got out of the van and ran.

Police also said he took an iPhone from the vehicle.

Perry will go to a judge-alone trial on the theft charges.

He was one of two people arrested around Christmas in relation to stolen courier parcels.

Another woman was spotted taking a parcel from someone's front door step in an unrelated incident around the same time.

Perry's attendance will be excused at a nominal date on April 27, when the court will set a trial date for him.

He was convicted on one count of breaching his release conditions, and has been remanded in custody.