August 05, 2011

Lure of drink and smoke was too much for escaper

By Anne Clarkson at the Rangiora Court House

A man escaped from his caregivers three times because he just wanted to satisfy his needs for a smoke and a drink, his defence counsel said in court yesterday.

Brett Allan King, 21, was earlier sentenced to be held in a secure care facility for 14 months after he demanded money from Asian people in the Upper Riccarton area.

He also robbed an unknown person of a wallet while armed with a knife, threatened three shop customers with a knife, and robbed one of them of his wallet. People struggled to take him seriously and no-one was hurt in the incidents.

He was sent to Hillmorton Hospital, but escaped from there three times, each time being picked up three to four hours later. He told police he was going to have as much fun as he could before he went to jail.

Defence counsel Tim Twomey said a psychologist?s report said King finally seemed to know that his offending was having consequences, and he may cease offending if he was subjected to a controlled programme which would give him access to cigarettes and alcohol as rewards.

The report recommended a compulsory care order, where community services could help King develop pro-social behaviours.

But King's probation report writer had not seen the psychologist report, and recommended a prison sentence.

Judge Stephen Erber remanded King to Hillmorton Hospital until September 15 so the probation service could read the psychological report and decide if they would re-assess their recommendation.

He warned King that the court could send him to jail for up to five years if he continued to offend, and told him that if he escaped again while on bail, prison would be inevitable.