Adam Robert Sampson-Waitana (19) made the ill-fated bid for freedom in August, which resulted in him being wrestled to the ground by police as he screamed about being unable to breathe.
The defendant was back in the same court last week after pleading guilty to assaulting police, disorderly behaviour, theft and breaching release conditions.
He was not charged over his attempt to escape custody.
Judge Michael Turner sentenced Sampson-Waitana to four and a-half months' imprisonment but the court heard he would be released in a matter of weeks when time already served was taken into account.
In July, less than a year since his release from his previous jail stint, the teen hired $961 of tramping equipment from a Mt Cook company, including boots, crampons and gaiters.
But rather than taking in the sights, Sampson-Waitana took the gear to Queenstown where he tried to sell it to another company.
Judge Turner said he rejected the explanation the defendant gave that he had no time to return the items because he had a Ministry of Social Development appointment.
On August 12, Sampson-Waitana got a taxi to Queenstown Airport but when he arrived, he refused to pay and became aggressive.
''Police were called and on arrival they found the defendant chasing the taxi driver around his taxi and an airport security guard attempting to hold the defendant back,'' court documents said.
When officers intervened, the defendant turned on them.
He lashed out at police, kicking one constable in the head and spitting in another's face.
During his interview later, Sampson-Waitana said he did not know why he had behaved in such a manner.
''He was very apologetic and uncontrollably sobbing,'' the summary said.
Counsel Debbie Ericsson explained her client had had substance-abuse problems from an early age.
At the time of the incident he had abstained from drugs but it had led to an increased reliance on alcohol, she said.
Though Sampson-Waitana was classified as a high risk of reoffending, Probation noted he was enthusiastic about his pursuit of higher education in agricultural management.
