Caleb Neil Fleming, 25, was released from Auckland Prison this week after serving nearly five years in jail, repeatedly being denied parole.
At a recent hearing, he told the Parole Board he envisaged a future away from the criminal justice system.
‘‘When I’m 30 I’m going to be working a successful job and have a family,’’ Fleming said.
He was convicted of robbery and aggravated robbery with a firearm in 2018, as a teenager, and had served time in lock-up before coming to Dunedin for a fresh start in 2021.
After a chance meeting at the city’s central library, Fleming was taken in by a religious family.
However, he was only there five days before stealing a car and driving to Food For Thought dairy in Clinton.
The court at sentencing heard Fleming covered his face and armed himself with a tyre iron before demanding cash and cigarettes from staff.
When they refused, he smashed the till, a pie warmer and damaged a microwave, then robbed a shopper of $30 as he left.
Police pursued him to Balclutha, but quickly abandoned the chase for safety reasons.
Fleming was found shortly afterwards after he had smashed the stolen vehicle into a sign outside a hotel.
His wild ways continued at the Otago Corrections Facility.
Fleming was found with two shanks made from shards of glass and engaged in a 20-minute struggle with Corrections staff.
The Parole Board noted it took four officers to restrain him as he repeatedly lashed out with the improvised weapons.
At a hearing in early 2026, the board heard Fleming was on a ‘‘positive trajectory’’ in prison, but that same month he racked up misconducts for disobeying the orders of Corrections staff and damaging a phone.
While the inmate’s security classification had restricted him from participating in some programmes, he said the rehabilitation he had undertaken had been illuminating.
‘‘He is discovering his core beliefs and making connections, including the early normalisation of violence,’’ panel convener An-Marie Beveridge said.
Fleming’s future focus was commendable, she said, ‘‘but he will need the right support’’.
The Parole Board imposed conditions, which would last the maximum of six months, including.—
To live at an approved address; to disclose details of relationships to Probation; not to possess alcohol or illicit drugs; to attend any programme as directed; not to communicate with prior co-offender; not to communicate with any associates of Black Power, Killer Beez or Crips; not to contact victims; not to enter Otago or Southland; to submit to electronic monitoring.
