May 29, 2010

Jason Robert Ayers announces his retirement

By David Clarkson

Six months ago, Jason Robert Ayers decided to retire at the age of 36. From crime.

Clearly, there was some tidying up before this happy arrangement could prevail.

Two prison terms in fact.

He started the second of them with his sentencing at the Christchurch District Court on Friday, when Judge Michael Crosbie imposed a three-year-term for what he termed ?a dangerous arson?.

Ayers was already serving a one-year term imposed in Nelson on February 2.

A few weeks ago in Christchurch, he pleaded guilty to a charge of damaging a vehicle by fire, and was remanded for sentence.

He boarded with the van owner in Christchurch, but got into a heated argument on October 2 and left the address with some of his belongings, warning: ?You haven?t heard the last of me.?

About 9pm that night, there was a loud bang outside the house and the van was found on fire. It was written off, with damage of $5000. A component blasted off through the back window of the vehicle and did $579 damage to a car parked nearby.

Judge Crosbie noted Ayers had a significant criminal history ? nine pages of print-out ? mainly for dishonesty offending, burglary, or breaches of sentences, and possession of an offensive weapon in 2006.

Judge Crosbie said Ayers had spent a substantial period in prison over the years. ?In essence you are are an old hand.?

The judge said: ?Apparently you made a decision six months ago that you would retire from crime. I suppose members of the public would look at that a little bit cynically.

?Working as I do, with people like you, we all know that sooner or later offenders do retire from crime. There?s a real drop-off rate and you are actually at that region now.

?But it takes more than you deciding enough?s enough. Once you are outside prison you have got all those old issues and pressures to fuel habits or get money, because you haven?t got any. Getting a job and cutting yourself off from old associates is exactly what you need.?

Defence counsel David Ruth said Ayers had expressed his regret and accepted reparation. He had come to an understanding of the waste of spending so much of his life in prison. ?There is some hope for rehabilitation for this man.?

Imposing the three year jail term, concurrent on the present term,?Judge Crosbie said he hoped the Parole Board would be able to impose residential restrictions for release towards the end of the sentence.

?I get from you that you understand what you have to do on the inside to reduce your risk. There is a realisation that you have spent far too much time in prison for the same old same old.?