Man in court over stolen car chase

A man who was hauled off a plane by armed police last week has appeared in court to face a mounting tally of charges.

Officers armed with a Taser boarded the Napier-bound plane as it awaited take-off at Wellington airport on Friday night and arrested Craig Connelly, whom they allege raced through the city in a stolen car earlier in the day.

Connelly, 38, appeared in Wellington District Court yesterday to face five new charges, including dangerous driving and theft of a vehicle. He now faces a total of 11 charges from different incidents throughout the country, The Dominion Post reported.

Connelly allegedly drove a stolen 2009 Ford Falcon XR6 and crashed into parked cars on Tinakori Rd in the early hours of Friday morning while being chased by police.

The pursuit was abandoned after the badly damaged car continued at high speed and ran a red light.

The Falcon was found abandoned and flipped on its roof in Aro Valley a short time later but there was no sign of Connelly.

Connelly had warrants out for his arrest on six existing charges, including possession of a weapon, carrying an imitation firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He also faces new charges of failing to stop for police and unlawful possession of a pistol. Connelly entered no pleas and was remanded in custody.

- NZPA