Tourists videotape prisoners' escape attempt

Two prisoners dangled from the back of a prison van as it travelled at 100km/h while tourists aboard a following bus videotaped their escape attempt, Nelson District Court has been told.

Bunra Lam, 18, of Nelson appeared in the court yesterday for sentencing on two burglary charges.

He faced further charges of escaping custody and wilful damage after Sunday's escape attempt, which he pleaded guilty to after hearing it had been filmed.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Wayne Johnston told the court Lam was a remand prisoner who was being transferred from Christchurch's Paparoa Prison.

He smuggled two metal clamps aboard the van and used these to prise open the door to his cage as the van neared Cheviot, south of Kaikoura. He forced the van's perspex window and squeezed through the gap.

"He then stood on the rear bumper of the moving truck and came to the attention of the following tour bus. He realised he had been seen and climbed back in," Mr Johnston said.

People on the bus called the police and a patrol car caught up with the van, he said.

Judge Tony Zohrab said Lam had amassed 44 convictions and at his last court appearance could have legitimately been sentenced to two years.

He sentenced Lam to a total of 21 months' prison without leave to apply for home detention.

Jason Leslie Douch, 20, unemployed, also appeared in court yesterday charged with escaping police custody and intentionally damaging a metal grill and perspex window belonging to the police.

He was remanded in custody without plea to appear today.

- nzpa