KEY POINTS:
High profile teen escapee Samuel Badawi was jailed today for a total of seventeen and a half months when he appeared for sentence in Tauranga District Court on a range of charges.
He and a fellow fugitive hit the headlines last month when they were the first to
break out of Waikeria Prison's youth unit near Te Awamutu since it opened seven years ago.
Just turned 18, Badawi had pleaded guilty to twice escaping from custody, resisting police, burglary, receiving stolen property, unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle and driving while disqualified.
When he was called before Judge Louis Bidois to learn his fate, Badawi smiled and nodded repeatedly from the dock to his parents and siblings sitting in the back of the courtroom.
The teenager escaped from Tauranga police station on June 2, having been arrested the previous day on burglary and receiving charges. He was re-arrested, appeared in court and was remanded on June 12 to Waikaeria's youth unit.
On June 14, Badawi and David Body, 18, made a successful bid for freedom.
They then broke into a rural property in Otorohanga and took firearms, clothing, a cheque book and a late model car.
Body was caught four days later in Te Kuiti and police recaptured Badawi in Palmerston North without incident after almost two weeks on the run.
His lawyer, Glenn Barnett, told the court a pre-sentence report said the 18-year-old would benefit from psychological assessment and counselling to reduce his risk of re-offending.
Badawi readily accepted that his decision making skills were poor.
Mr Barnett said the Mt Maunganui burglary was the defendant's first such charge before the adult court. Among his appearances in the Youth Court in the past were two for escaping lawful custody.
Judge Bidois said aggravating features were Badawai's previous convictions and history of dishonesty, violence and non-compliance.
From a young age, he had failed to take advantage of the rehabilitation opportunities offered in Youth Court.
"You can, on the face of it, be described as becoming a hardened criminal," the judge said.
Sentencing Badawi to various prison terms -- some cumulative and others concurrent -- on the different charges, he denied leave to apply for home detention.
As part of his total stint behind bars, the prisoner will serve an extra month to wipe out $12,000 worth of outstanding fines. He will face special release conditions, including undertaking any prescribed programmes.
Reparation for stolen property not recovered was set at $640 and Badawi is disqualified from driving indefinitely.
Outside court his parents, who had travelled from Tokoroa for the sentencing, said they were pleased at the outcome.
"This will give Sam a chance to stop and think," said Steve Badawi.
"It (the sentence) is harsh enough to put out a strong message but not so harsh that it is unfair."
Wendy Badawi said she had no regrets about their emotional public pleas for their son to give himself up when he was on the run. They feared he might be shot and killed during police efforts to recapture him.
Samuel had not seen his parents' television appearances but had "heard about them," she said.
It left a big impression on the teenager.
"We went public to help him. We will stand beside him but not condone any wrongdoing," said Mr Badawi.
The couple hoped that their son could turn his life around.
- NZPA
