Stalker given more jail time

The <i>Herald on Sunday</i> broke the story in May.

Three government agencies have changed procedures after a prisoner terrorised an Auckland teacher from behind bars.

Elton John Taniora-Waitai became obsessed with the mother of three after seeing her on a TV documentary while serving time in Waikeria Prison.

The 19-year-old was sentenced to another eight months in prison after pleading guilty to two charges of impersonating police and one of criminal harassment, when he appeared before the Manukau District Court on Tuesday.

According to court documents, he called Work and Income and asked to be transferred to Child Youth and Family. After impersonating current and former police officers he was able to contact several stations and seek the woman's details from the force computer.

The police summary of facts said he impersonated police between November 2008 and March 2009.

Taniora-Waitai accessed external phone lines with a personal ID code given to a former prisoner that should have been cancelled.

According to the summary of facts, he told police he liked impersonating them because he had always wanted to be a cop.

Lawyer Ted Faleauto, who helped Taniora-Waitai at Tuesday's hearing, said the defendant was already serving more than four years at Paremoremo Prison.

Faleauto said despite a long list of convictions, Taniora-Waitai appeared to be intelligent, well-spoken and well-presented, and had "misapplied his skills" for criminal acts.

The teacher - an attractive woman in her 20s - did not want to be identified and would not comment, saying she wished to put the traumatic saga behind her.

When the Herald on Sunday revealed her ordeal in May, she said she feared for her life and the lives of her family.

She had changed her name, her children's names, their schools and passports to escape Taniora-Waitai's attentions. But he continued to contact her, even after she went to police.

The teacher said she pleaded for help from the police and Corrections Department for six months. Action was taken only after she contacted Police Minister Judith Collins.

The revelations prompted Counties Manukau Police Commander Mike Bush to carry out an investigation.

He said police had met the teacher and made a formal apology and national headquarters had implemented a new policy on the release of information. Details of any compensation were confidential.

Corrections and Child, Youth and Family have also tightened procedures.

Corrections spokesman Neil Beales said Taniora-Waitai had been reclassified as a maximum security prisoner and his use of phones was closely monitored and restricted.

Child Youth and Family general manager John Henderson was "appalled" by Taniora-Waitai's deception, and said changes meant calls from prisons could no longer be transferred externally.

Collins said action taken by police as a result of their inquiry sounded "entirely appropriate given the circumstances".

She said the public had a right to expect it would be safe from intimidation by prisoners.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY