'Hunted One's' appeal fails

William Stewart, the self-proclaimed "Billy the Hunted One", has lost a bid to reduce his overall prison sentence because he will not tell police who helped him during his crime spree or where stolen property ended up.

Stewart, 48, was on the run in rural Canterbury for seven months after he breached parole in October 2008. His rampage cost about $350,000.

In February he was sentenced to seven years and four months with a non-parole period of four years 10 months but he went to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the sentence and minimum jail term were excessive because he was not given credit for remorse or his offer to pay $75,000 towards reparations.

The appeal judges, in a decision released yesterday, said the sentencing judge had got it right. Stewart had a minor victory over a technicality. His minimum jail term was reduced to four years and two months as the sentencing judge erred in counting two cumulative one-year terms as part of the total for the non-parole term, which can be imposed only on jail terms of two years or more.

- NZPA