An arrest warrant has been issued for David Dougherty after he failed to appear at court yesterday.
Dougherty, who was previously wrongly convicted of the abduction and rape of an 11-year-old girl, was due to appear at Palmerston North District Court yesterday for sentencing for theft.
He is charged with stealing a wallet.
However he failed to show up and a warrant for his arrest was issued, said his lawyer Mark Alderdice.
The 45-year-old previously served three years in prison after being convicted of crimes against an 11-year-old girl.
At a 1997 retrial he was acquitted when new DNA evidence ruled him out of the charge.
He received a public apology and $868,728 in compensation.
In 2011, Dougherty was sentenced to 300 hours of community work and nine months' supervision for a burglary.
