An arrest warrant has been issued for recidivist David Dougherty after he failed to show up to court for sentencing on a theft charge.

The 45-year-old, who was once wrongly convicted for raping an 11-year-old girl, was supposed to appear in the Palmerston North District Court yesterday, but didn’t appear when his name was called.

Defence lawyer Mark Alderdice said he was going to appear for Dougherty, having represented him at his last appearance in November.

According to court documents, on September 12 Dougherty took a woman’s wallet.

The wallet and its contents were worth $200.

Last year Judge Barbara Morris delayed sentencing Dougherty to allow him to get alcohol and gambling addiction treatment, otherwise he would face jail.

Dougherty served three years in prison for raping and abducting an 11-year-old girl – crimes he did not commit.

He was cleared at a 1997 retrial and subsequently awarded $868,728 in compensation.

This is Dougherty’s first offending since a mini crime spree in late 2010 and early 2011, when he burgled a Tremaine Ave house, stole a wallet from a car and two bottles of alcohol from Mini Malbas bar.

‘‘I don’t need to remind you that your life has been a rollercoaster ride involving the courts and incarceration,’’ Judge Oke Blaikie told him then.

After one court appearance in 2011, Dougherty said he was ashamed and embarrassed for what he had done.

‘‘I’m totally sorry to the victims of my actions.’’

Dougherty has more than 70 convictions.

- © Fairfax NZ News