KEY POINTS:
After a three-day drinking binge, Jason Bruce Karanga lit three fires in the Far North township of Kerikeri, causing nearly $50,000 in damage.
Yesterday, in the Christchurch District Court, the 36-year-old admitted three arson charges and was remanded in custody for sentencing on February 28.
His mother, who has moved to Christchurch, offered to provide a home for him during his remand, but Judge Phillip Moran refused.
"I'm sorry to your family for the bad news, but that's how it goes," he said.
Crown prosecutor Deidre Orchard had detailed a long list of missed court dates. That included at least one date when Karanga did not turn up for his own trial.
He ended up in the Christchurch courts when a police officer stopped his vehicle and a search revealed the outstanding arrest warrants.
Mrs Orchard said heavy drinking led to the arsons, and also caused his unreliability on bail.
Karanga could not remember details of the night, but thought he had mostly likely set the fires.
- NZPA
