A prisoner tricked police into releasing him from the Rotorua court cells by pretending to be someone else, a court has heard.
Justin Frederick Thompson, 28, pleaded guilty in the Rotorua District Court last week to escaping from custody and theft of another prisoner's belongings on July 15.
According to the police summary of facts, Thompson had been remanded in custody in the cells, along with numerous other prisoners.
While waiting, he spoke with a prisoner who had been granted bail and "familiarised himself" with that man's name and personal details.
When a constable opened the cell doors and called the other prisoner's name, Thompson stepped forward and said "Yep that's me".