Wanted Marokopa dad still on the run more than one week after court no-show

Thursday, 20 January 2022

Police believe Thomas Phillips is with his three children, Jayda Jin, Maverick and Ember.

The whereabouts of a wanted Marokopa dad is still not known more than a week after he didn’t show up in court on a charge of wasting police time.

Thomas Phillips, 34, was due to appear in the Te Kūiti District Court at 11am on January 12 on a single charge of causing wasteful deployment of police personnel and resources in relation to a large-scale search for him and his three children, Jayda Jin, Maverick and Ember, in September.

He failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Police refused to give Stuff information about their search for Phillips, only confirming that enquiries were ongoing to locate him.

Thomas Phillips was due to appear before Judge Philip Crayton at Te Kūiti District Court on January 12.

* Marokopa dad Thomas Phillips a no-show in court on charge of wasting police time

Judge Philip Crayton issued a warrant for Phillip’s arrest when he didn’t show up at Te Kūiti District Court.

* Marokopa family go bush again, no search initiated by police

When asked about the ongoing issue, Waitomo mayor John Robertson said he did not want to get involved because the matter was for the police and courts to deal with.

Dense bush 15 kilometres south of Marokopa on Mangatoa Road where Thomas Phillips and his children went missing.

In the statement to Stuff last week, Waikato west area commander Inspector Will Loughrin said police believed Phillips was with his three children.

He said police were receiving useful information from members of public who, after the events of September, were aware of both what Phillips and his children look like.

“While police understand the ongoing interest in this matter, we will not be disclosing the details of the enquiries that are under way.”

Last year, grave concerns were raised for the welfare of Phillips and his children after his 4WD vehicle was found abandoned below the tideline on Kiritehere Beach on September 11.

The family reappeared, safe, 18 days later.

The family of four survived in a tent in the dense bush, about 15 kilometres away from the coast. They were not spotted despite an extensive search including search and rescue teams, community volunteers, heat-detecting drones, a helicopter, and jet skis.

Phillips went bush with his children for a second time in December, prompting police monitoring but not a search.

In court, Phillips’ lawyer Garth O’Brien appeared via audio-visual link. He confirmed his client had been advised of the court date, but had not since been in contact.

O’Brien also sought leave to withdraw as Phillips’ counsel and Judge Crayton granted this.

After the no-show in court, Stuff visited Phillips’ house in Ōtorohanga. It was closed up, with the gate at the top of the driveway locked.

The police charge against Phillips states that between September 11 and September 30, 2021, “being reckless as to whether wasteful deployment of police resources would result, behaved in a manner that was likely to give rise to serious apprehension for the safety of himself, Jayda Phillips, Ember Phillips and Maverick Phillips, knowing that such apprehension would be groundless.”

The charge comes with a maximum penalty of three months in prison or a fine of up to $2000.