KEY POINTS:
As he begins a two-year prison term, ram raider William Taukamo is fearful of retaliation behind bars.
He expressed those fears in writing today to Christchurch District Court Judge Stephen Erber.
The judge received the letter - one of many that Taukamo has written to the courts - and told the 26-year-old man in the dock to tell the prison authorities of his fears when he got there.
Taukamo was sentenced for two early morning ram raids on Christchurch businesses in June, using a car he had stolen.
Charges included having drug equipment, driving while his licence was suspended, driving while disqualified, two burglaries (the ram raids), unlawfully taking a car, failing to stop for a police car, and reckless driving.
Defence counsel Paul Norcross said that Taukamo had a rampaging drug habit, but was contrite in what he had said to the victims of his offending.
Judge Erber said that ram raids were very serious and home detention was not appropriate.
He sentenced Taukamo to two years in prison, disqualification from driving for 12 months, and to pay reparation of $10,000 when released.
He also said he was to undertake and complete drug and alcohol abuse counselling.
- NZPA
