A man's plea to be with his partner and newborn child could not persuade a judge to allow his freedom to see the child.
Instead, Judge Peter Callinicos gave Leo Thornton a lesson in responsibility before remanding him in custody for sentencing on charges that arose after a high-speed chase through
Wanganui on January 12.
In Wanganui District Court yesterday, Thornton, 24, sought bail on compassionate grounds to be with his partner, who gave birth in Palmerston North on Monday night.
However, Judge Callinicos told Thornton that he had failed by some measure and "had an awful long time to show dedication ... you should have been there for your partner instead of committing your crime spree across the country".
Thornton had failed to appear in court for previous offending, the judge said.
Thornton first appeared in court on January 18 on a raft of charges following a high-speed police pursuit around Wanganui on January 12.
Thornton pleaded guilty to eight charges: theft of petrol valued at $76.72 on January 17; unlawfully taking a vehicle from Gisborne; careless driving and unlawfully taking a car from Wairoa; demanding with menace and theft of petrol from Napier on January 16; and reckless driving and failing to stop in Wanganui on January 17.
He will be sentenced in Wanganui on April 4.
