Teen, 17, pleads guilty to charges

17 year-old Nigel Atkinson was charged with failing to stop, unlawfully getting into a vehicle, dangerous driving, and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle. Photo / Thinkstock

One of the youths who was part of a car crime wave in the Bay of Islands has admitted taking eight cars and trying to take another over a two-week period.

Nigel Atkinson, 17, of Taumatamakuku, near Moerewa, appeared in the Kaikohe District Court on Tuesday on a raft of charges relating to a crime wave which has hit Opua residents especially hard.

He was arrested after a police chase on January 6 in which the driver of the car he was in refused to stop, travelling 25km on its rims after its tyres were shredded by road spikes.

Looking years younger than his age, Atkinson pleaded guilty to eight charges of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, one of attempted unlawful taking, and one of possessing a bong for smoking cannabis. He was remanded on bail under a strict 24-hour curfew until sentencing on March 4.

Atkinson's lawyer requested an easing of the curfew because his uncle was hoping to find him a job at an orchard. He is only allowed out of the house if accompanied by his uncle or mother.

The request was opposed by police due to the large number of offences committed, and refused by Judge Brooke Gibson.

According to court documents, the cars were taken between December 22 and January 6 from Kawakawa, Opua, Waitangi and Ruakaka. The most expensive vehicle taken was a Toyota Landcruiser owned by an earthmoving firm and worth $25,000.

Also in court on Tuesday was a 17-year-old alleged accomplice, Bailey Nilsson-Cherrington of Kawakawa.

Nilsson-Cherrington faced a raft of charges relating to a police chase on January 6 in which a car he was allegedly driving refused to stop for police, ran over road spikes at Hikurangi, and drove another 25km on its rims to Whananaki South.

He was charged with failing to stop, unlawfully getting into a vehicle, dangerous driving, and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

Nilsson-Cherrington was remanded on bail and is due back in court on February 10. He has yet to enter a plea.

Two other boys, aged 15 and 16, appeared in the Kaikohe Youth Court on January 8. Between them they are charged with a further two unlawful takings, receiving, and interfering with a motor vehicle. They cannot be named because they are under 17.