Prisoners admit court cells escape

Two overflow inmates from Rimutaka Prison have admitted escaping through internal security doors at the Wellington District Court.

Lance Ray Seymore Ludwig, 31, serving a jail term for burglary, and Sonny Art Pritchard, 29, who is serving a nine-year term for aggravated robbery, had been charged with escaping the lawful custody of the Corrections Department.

The men were yesterday back in the court under the watchful eye of Corrections staff.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Graeme Burr said that on Saturday, April 16, both men were transferred from Rimutaka Prison to the court police cells. They shared a cell.

On April 18, both were allowed to wander round a secure cell area in the basement of the court.

About 8am, they were told to take their belongings to a particular cell as the court was due to open for the day and fresh prisoners would be coming in.

While Ludwig moved gear, Pritchard stayed behind to clean up the cell.

Mr Burr said Pritchard, along with another prisoner, used the time to kick in an internal security door that lead to a stairwell into the court building.

Both men ran off. When Ludwig returned, he was told Pritchard had gone. He followed.

They met up on the second floor and left the building by public access. But later that day Pritchard and Ludwig were recaptured by police patrols after being spotted in a street.

The third man had run off.

Both men were remanded in custody until May 27 for sentencing.

- NZPA