David Dougherty in court on theft charge

David Dougherty in 2001. File photo / Brett Phibbs

David Dougherty, who was wrongly imprisoned for abducting and raping a schoolgirl, has returned to court, this time on a charge of theft.

On Tuesday he entered no plea before a registrar in Palmerston North District Court to a charge of stealing items from a car.

In 1997 the 43-year-old was released from jail 3-1/2 years into his seven-year jail sentence after the Court of Appeal found him not guilty of abducting and raping an Auckland schoolgirl based on DNA evidence.

In 2001, he was awarded $868,728.80 in compensation and received an apology from the Government.

Dougherty was remanded on bail to reappear on March 3.

- NZPA