Inmate called victim on prison phone
Inmate repeatedly called victim on prison phone
An oversight by Corrections allowed an inmate to use a prison phone to illegally contact his victim more than 1000 times.
Rob Kidd
Justice system needs to change: Chief judge
Justice system needs to change: Chief judge
The Chief District Court Judge has called for an overhaul of the justice system, to avoid perpetuating the cycle of disadvantage, particularly for Maori.
A life lived out on the margins
A life lived out on the margins
When a 21-year-old man robbed a liquor store then stabbed a police officer who tried to arrest him, it was a new low point of a life lived in society’s margins.
High praise for prison writing prize winners
High praise for prison writing prize winners
The winner of the Otago Daily Times’ inaugural prison writing competition can finally be revealed in all its melancholic maritime majesty.
Offender keyed swastikas into woman's car
Offender keyed swastikas into woman's car
A man who scratched swastikas on a woman's car has been before the court every year of his adult life, a court heard.
Gang kingpin jailed for robbery, intimidation
Gang kingpin jailed for robbery, intimidation
A veteran Dunedin gang kingpin got an unwelcome birthday present last week - a 15-month prison term.
Man jailed for sexual remarks to 8-yr-old girl
Man jailed for sexual remarks to 8-yr-old girl
When Robin Abraham needed a place to live, his friends agreed to put him up, but he repaid them by making "vile'' sexual comments to their 8-year-old daughter.
Six years' jail for raping ex-partner
Six years' jail for raping ex-partner
A Central Otago shearer who raped his ex-partner while making their children wait in the car outside has been jailed for six years.
Jail scribes’ entries in
Jail scribes’ entries in
The entries are in and incarcerated southern scribes face a nervous wait.
Straight-talking judge retiring from Dunedin District Court
Straight-talking judge retiring from Dunedin District Court
Dunedin criminals might be breathing a temporary sigh of relief — Judge Kevin Phillips is doing his final stretch.
Arson spurred by death
Arson spurred by death
A Mosgiel man burned down a state house because he was haunted by the memory of finding his auntie dead there five months earlier, a court has heard.
Woman attacked social worker online
Woman attacked social worker online
After her son was taken from her care, a Dunedin mother took her frustrations with Oranga Tamariki online.
Man had ammo concealed in house
Man had ammo concealed in house
A Dunedin man who had 251 rounds of ammunition concealed in seven different areas of his house was "up to something", a judge says.
Dunedin man wanted to 'drag ex to her death'
Dunedin man wanted to 'drag ex to her death'
A Dunedin man said he wanted to put a chain around his ex-girlfriend's neck, tie her to his vehicle and drag her to her death, a court has heard.
Late appeal lacks merit, judge says
Late appeal lacks merit, judge says
A man who beat his partner so viciously that she lost the sight in one eye has failed at the first hurdle in a bid to shorten his sentence.
Indecent act on underage girl
Indecent act on underage girl
A Facebook predator with a "fixation" on young girls repeatedly lied to a 14-year-old until he got her on her own, a court has heard.
Man a 'sexual predator on social media'
Man a 'sexual predator on social media': judge
A Facebook predator with a “fixation” on young girls repeatedly lied to a 14-year-old until he got her on her own, a court has heard.
Child's plea: 'No, daddy, stop'
Child's plea: 'No, daddy, stop'
A Central Otago man repeatedly tried to strangle his partner while their 2-year-old daughter begged him ''no, daddy, stop'', a court has heard.
Man jailed 10 years for sexual offending
Man jailed 10 years for sexual offending
More than 70 sex acts against a young girl, including two rapes, have landed a Dunedin man in prison for a decade.
Blackmailer wins parole despite misconduct
Blackmailer wins parole despite misconduct
A woman who blackmailed her lover for more than $180,000 has been released on parole, despite two incidents of misconduct behind bars in the last six months.