"Missing" man admits wasting police time

A man who disappeared for over a month after a car accident has admitted wasting police time.

South Auckland accountant Arnold Reedy crashed his car in mangrove swamps off the Miranda to Kaiaua road on Auckland's east coast on February 25.

He appeared in the Manukau District Court today. The prosecution says before the accident the 42-year-old left home after a family dispute about gambling problems and debt.

Reedy also phoned his wife telling her he was considering harming himself.

He told police he knew people were searching for him but he did not care and was not worried about anyone.

He told them he lived in a tree in mangroves for three to four weeks drinking his own sweat.

Police say they spent hundreds of man hours searching for Reedy, including using a dive team, before he was found in Auckland.

He will be sentenced on January 19.

- NEWSTALK ZB