British national accused of roofing scam believed to have left NZ, police say

If successful, Tommy Ward and William Donohue would be bailed to a Wellington address.

Police told 1 NEWS they believe overseas visitor James Nolan, accused of being involved in an Auckland roofing scam, has fled the country.

He is one of three British nationals facing a charge linked to the alleged scam.

Nolan is also charged with assaulting a woman at Auckland’s Takapuna Beach and using a motor vehicle recklessly during the incident.

Police put out a warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear at the Auckland District Court for a second time earlier this month while on bail.

A police spokesperson said authorities are now talking to overseas partner agencies about his disappearance.

Two other men accused of the same scheme appeared in the Hutt Valley District Court today.

Judge Craig Thompson ruled that the pair could be filmed by the media. 

Tommy Ward, 26, and William Donohue, 25, have been charged, along with Nolan, of using a false document as if it were genuine.

Nolan, 26, faces the same charge but failed to appear in court yesterday.

Police say the forged documents were a Roofcare business card and invoice. 

Two of the British nationals appeared in court today, police believe the third man who failed to appear, has fled the country

Defence lawyer Kevin Preston is seeking bail to a Wellington address for the two men who did appear. 

Mr Preston said the pair have had no previous criminal convictions since arriving in New Zealand in January but have each been convicted for a minor crime in the past. 

Police, however, are opposing the request.

"I have concerns about that," an officer said in court today. "Any address, we would say, they would be a flight risk from."

Judge Thompson has ordered police to find out if passports for the men can be surrendered to authorities first, and if the address is suitable for bail. 

If so, Judge Thompson said, Ward and Donohue will be granted bail.

The pair will appear in the Auckland District Court on March 8. 

Police issued warrants to arrest the pair on February 1, in relation to an alleged series of door step frauds.

In a statement, a police spokesperson said three people involved in the scam were arrested at a Lower Hutt property early yesterday morning. Two of them were charged and the third person was assisting with police inquiries and subsequently released without charge. 

SHARE ME