Prisoner gets extra three months for escape bid

A prisoner who climbed part-way out a prison van while travelling from Christchurch had a history of escaping from police custody, Nelson District Court has heard.

Jason Leslie Douch, 20, admitted attempting to escape police custody and wilful damage when he appeared in court yesterday.

Douch had previously admitted nine charges of using a National Bank Visa card dishonestly and two charges of using a document for pecuniary advantage.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Dave Jory agreed to downgrade the charge against Douch from escaping police custody to attempting to escape as he did not leave the van.

Mr Jory told the court Douch and an associate, Bunra Lam, used two metal clamps to prise and snap welding on a door in a cage in the van as it neared Cheviot, south of Kaikoura.

The pair were then able to force open the van's perspex window.

Mr Jory said Douch was seen by police climbing part-way through the window before climbing back into the van.

When spoken to, Douch said he did not know anything of the escape bid.

Judge Tony Zohrab sentenced him to 16 months in prison for the 11 charges he faced, including three months for attempting to escape police custody.

The judge said Douch had a long history of dishonesty charges which also included at least three charges of escaping police custody.

He ordered Douch to pay $2700 in reparation on the fraud charges, $1800 of which he had to pay immediately.

Lam was sentenced on Monday to six months in prison for his part in the van incident.

Evidence was given that he climbed out of the van window and stood on the bumper.

He was seen and videoed by tourists travelling in a bus.

- nzpa