Liquor store assault accused back in custody

A teen accused of assaulting a Bottle-O Lynmore worker and being involved in a high-speed police chase in Rotorua is back behind bars after allegedly breaching bail.

Police arrested the 18-year-old two days after a Rotorua District Court judge granted him bail.

A police spokesman said the teen was arrested on Friday and was remanded in custody.

He will next appear in the Rotorua District Court on November 20.

He appeared in court on Wednesday last week and did not enter pleas to six charges.

Judge Joanne Wickliffe granted interim name suppression and bail with a 24-hour curfew.

The teen is charged with alleged offending on October 20.

The charges include wounding the Bottle-O worker with intent to cause grievous bodily harm; theft of liquor from the store; interfering with a motor vehicle; dangerous driving; failing to comply with a request to take a blood specimen; and failing to stop for police while speeding.

Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 30 years, covering police, court, human interest and social issues.