A man who stole a car from two German tourists said he took their car because he didn't like them.
Cory Tamatoa Pakai was in Hastings when he swiped the victims' car keys while they were at the gym. When they were at the gym another day he returned andtook the car and possessions inside, including personal belongings and electronics.
The car had a value of $1700-$1800 and the belongings were worth about $1000, police prosecutor Sergeant Drew Morrison told the Whanganui District Court last week.
After stealing the car, Pakai had driven to a friend's address and bragged about stealing the vehicle from a German, he said.
Pakai claimed he took the vehicle to take his pregnant partner back to Wanganui, and took the tourists' car because he didn't like the victims.
Judge David Cameron called the offending "calculated", pointing to the fact Pakai stole the keys and came back "several days later" for the vehicle.
Defence lawyer Harete Hipango said Pakai didn't have a criminal record, and took the car because his partner had been assaulted and he needed to take her back to Wanganui. Judge Cameron ordered a pre-sentence report and referred the matter to Restorative Justice. He remanded Pakai to May 21.
