Escape with machete earns extra custody

Press, 31 August 1989, Page 18

Escape with machete earns extra custody

PA Blenheim A man who threatened the police with a machete after escaping from the Blenheim police station cells has been sentenced to an extra six months imprisonment. Ken Jeff MacGregor, aged 30, formerly of Picton and Nelson, appeared in the District Court at Wellington on Tuesday for sentence after admitting charges of escaping from custody, and threatening to kill and assault with

intent to facilitate his flight upon the commission of a crime.

On each of the charges he was sentenced to six months imprisonment to be served concurrently, but the extra term would be added to a 3>/ 2 year prison term he had begun to serve earlier this year. Earlier this month MacGregor was brought to Blenheim from Mount Crawford Prison in Wellington to give evidence in a drugs trial.

While in custody at the Blenheim police station, he and another prisoner used hacksaw blades to cut through metal bars and escape through a skylight in the cell-block ceiling. His companion was found the following night, but MacGregor was not recaptured for four days. The police chased him through central Blenheim streets after he threatened police officers with a 50cm long machete.