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Kevin Polwart
A career criminal say he broke out of prison because he
feared he would not get parole and wanted to show authorities
he was not a danger to the community.
Kevin Polwart, 49, who was eight years into a 16-year
sentence for aggravated robbery, was recaptured last Thursday
after escaping from Auckland Prison at Paremoremo on December
16.
In North Shore District Court yesterday, Polwart pleaded
guilty to escaping and had another nine months added to his
sentence.
Polwart was jailed for 10 years in 2000 for robbing a
security van and stealing $600,000. He escaped in 2001 for 41
days during which time he held up another security van.
He was sentenced to a further six years when recaptured.
In court yesterday his lawyer Michael Levett handed a letter
from Polwart addressed to the New Zealand Herald, to Judge
Barbara Morris.
In the letter, Polwart said he was afraid he would not get
parole when he became eligible next year because of a change
in the Parole Act 2002 which allows the Department of
Corrections to apply to the Parole Board to keep a prisoner
beyond their final release date.
Mr Levett told the court Polwart had became very distressed
and depressed when he learnt he may not get parole and the
escape was a way to demonstrate he was not a danger to the
community.
