A 31-year-old man accused of stealing a car with a baby in the back and later pulling over and leaving the child on the side of the road has been remanded in custody on six charges.
The man appeared at a registrar's hearing in the Invercargill District Court yesterday, andwas remanded in custody by consent.
He was taken to Invercargill prison to appear again in the Invercargill court on Friday.
The man is charged with unlawfully taking a vehicle in Balfour, Northern Southland, on Monday, theft, failing to stop for police, abandoning a child, driving while an unlicensed and prohibited driver, and reckless driving.
Police said yesterday an 11-month-old boy was inside a parked car the man is accused of taking.
As he drove along State Highway 94 towards Gore he is alleged to have pulled over to the side of the road and placed the baby in its car seat on the side of the road before driving off.
A member of the public stayed with the baby and telephoned the police.
The man was arrested after a high-speed chase which ended when the car he was driving went down a small bank.
