A WANTED man is behind bars after he was tracked by the police helicopter through bushland and fronted court on more than 30 charges.
Hayden Coward, 30, had warrants out for his arrest for alleged property and illegal hunting offences, and was brought into custody after a police operation in the Hunter on Sunday, February 18.
The Singleton man faced Muswellbrook Local Court for the first time today.
Magistrate Kevin Hockey refused the man bail and ordered him to remain in custody.
He adjourned the matters to Muswellbrook Local Court in April.
Coward's arrest came after investigations into alleged property crime led Hunter Valley officers to a property on Ridgeland Road at Wybong at about 7am on Sunday.
When police arrived, Coward was allegedly seen running from the residence.
General duties officers on the ground were backed by a PolAir aircraft as they tracked him.
He allegedly escaped from the property and drove through bushland in a ute.
The 30-year-old was arrested a short time later and taken to Muswellbrook Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of police pursuit.
The man also faces allegations of taking and driving a vehicle without consent, driving while suspended and driving while disqualified.
The warrants were executed for 27 property, traffic and hunting offences, a NSW Police spokesperson said.
Those charges included entering agricultural lands with a hunting dog, entering private lands to hunt without consent, driving recklessly or furiously, resisting or hindering arrest, and break-and-enter, among others.
