More hard time for cell escape trio

Three men who escaped from the cells at Wellington District Court have had more prison time added to the sentences they were serving.

Lance Ray Seymore Ludwig, 31, who was serving one year and nine months for burglary, and Sonny Art Pritchard, 29, who was serving nine years for aggravated robbery, had six months added to their sentences by Judge Jan Kelly in Wellington District Court on Friday.

They pleaded guilty to escaping.

Daniel Waka Minogue, 26, admitted two charges of escaping and breaching a public liquor ban.

Minogue, who had been serving two years and three months for charges including arson, had nine months added to his sentence.

All three men had been held in the court cells as part of a group unable to be housed at Rimutaka Prison in Upper Hutt.

On April 16, one kicked through an internal security door. Pritchard and Minogue escaped and Ludwig followed them later.