A 16-year-old youth yesterday got his wish for a spell in Christchurch's Paparua Prison, preferring it to the cells at the Christchurch Central police station.
Four youths have been held in the police cells this week, because secure accommodation is not available for them at the Kingslea Residential Centre in suburban Burwood.
One of them was brought before Judge Stephen Erber in the Christchurch District Court yesterday.
He faced six charges of escaping from custody as well as counts of resisting and assaulting police, theft, receiving stolen property, threatening to kill or do grievous bodily harm, wounding and injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, burglary and unlawfully taking a vehicle.
He had been on bail awaiting sentencing on January 31 but was arrested for a breach of the bail conditions on January 4 and has been in the police cells for a week. No bed is available at Kingslea until Wednesday, and he sought a remand to Paparua in the meantime.
Crown prosecutor James Rapley said the law would allow the youth before the court to be remanded to an adult prison, which offered better facilities and exercise yards.
- NZPA
Judge grants youth's wish for a real jail
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