Rotorua court case could be transferred to Christchurch

Keepa Karaitiana was due to appear in the Rotorua District Court. Photo / File

A man who was high on methamphetamine when he knocked a woman, aged in her 60s, off her bar stool in a Rotorua pokie bar as he tried to steal her handbag could have his case moved to Christchurch.

Keepa Karaitiana, 28, was due to be sentenced in the Rotorua District Court today in relation to one charge of robbery but he didn't show up.

His lawyer Harry Edward said his client had moved to Christchurch and wanted his case to be transferred.

The Rotorua Daily Post had permission to take Karaitiana's photo but could not.

The charge relates to an incident on December 6 last year when Karaitiana was at Kasper's Bar on Tutanekai St about 7pm.

He went into the gaming room at the back of the bar where a 66-year-old woman was sitting at one of the gaming machines on a high bar stool.

The woman was holding her handbag in her left hand and had it resting on her lap.

When the opportunity presented itself, Karaitiana lunged towards the woman, snatched her bag with his left hand and tried to run off. The woman tried to hang on to her bag but the aggressive force used by Karaitiana caused her chair to spin in a clockwise direction.

The woman "held on to her bag for dear life" but Karaitiana pulled the bag from her and ran towards the door where he was tackled at the doorway by several patrons.

They let him walk free when he gave the bag back, the summary said.

The woman got medical help and suffered a sprained and bruised little finger and was sore and shaken.

Karaitiana told police he was under the influence of methamphetamine and needed money as he spent it all on pokies.

Karaitiana has been given a warning under the three strikes legislation because he has pleaded guilty to a serious violent offence.

A next court date was not set.