Strip club dad seeks to change plea

A man who abandoned his baby outside a Wellington strip club changed his plea when he appeared in court yesterday for sentencing over an alleged assault on the child's mother.

Wayne Ricardo Schwamm, 42, of Palmerston North, pleaded guilty to assaulting Ashley Chai earlier this year but changed his mind when he appeared in Palmerston North District Court yesterday, The Dominion Post reported.

He allegedly punched her because he felt she was "too casual" about the boy's safety.

His lawyer Mark Dobson told the court said Schwamm was worried a conviction would prevent him winning custody of his 20-month-old son, who is now in the care of Child, Youth and Family. He asked Judge Grant Fraser to vacate the guilty plea.

Schwamm pleaded guilty because he did not want to "go up against" Ms Chai while they were still living together, Mr Dobson said.

"The landscape has changed dramatically since then."

Judge Fraser remanded Schwamm on bail to June 28 while he considered the application but urged him to "face up to the matter" rather than put his partner through a defended hearing.

Schwann was fined $200 in Wellington District Court in April when he pleaded guilty to leaving a child under 14 without reasonable supervision.

He went to Splash Club in Courtenay Place about 3am on April 13 to meet a stripper friend but, when she was delayed, he waited inside, rather than returning to the car.

- NZPA