A man who escaped police custody and didn't turn up at court has earned himself a conviction he could have avoided by just showing up, a judge says.
Cruise Whittaker was arrested last August after a drunken brawl, and was bailed to appear in the Whanganui District Court on August 19. He did not appear.
He was arrested, bailed again, and failed to appear a second time.
In January, police went to Whittaker's address and he gave them false information about his identity before fleeing.
He got about 50 metres, jumping several fences before he was caught.