Security status block to prison programmes
Caleb Neil Fleming, 24, is serving a term of more than five years' imprisonment, imposed in 2023 — his third stint in jail.
At a hearing last month, the Parole Board heard the Auckland Prison inmate had been waitlisted for drug treatment and a medium-intensity group programme but because of Corrections rules he was unable to start that treatment until his security status dropped.
Fleming had been responsible for "unrelenting misconducts" the board previously heard, and in his most recent report panel convener Judge Geoffrey Ellis pointed to 20 recent incidents logged by prison staff.
Fleming came to Dunedin seeking a fresh start in 2021 and a chance meeting at the library led to him being offered a bed at a family home.
But after just five days of hospitality, he stole the car of the Good Samaritans and drove to Food For Thought in Clinton.
The court at sentencing heard Fleming covered his face and armed himself with a tyre iron before entering the store.
When staff refused to hand over cash and cigarettes, he smashed the till, a pie warmer and damaged a microwave.
On his way out, Fleming robbed a shopper of $30.
Police quickly tailed him on the way to Balclutha and, after the chase was abandoned for safety reasons, they found the driver had smashed into a sign outside a hotel.
Fleming was arrested after a short foot pursuit.
He was later convicted in relation to an unrelated burglary in which he damaged a property, and there had been another violent incident while he was 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 as they attempted to restrain him.
The Parole Board heard the prisoner had worked with a psychologist for a couple of months last year but the sessions had ended when he failed to show up.
Fleming, though, said he was getting a lot out of the appointments and was keen to continue them.
Given his apparent enthusiasm, Judge Ellis directed a follow-up by psychological services to determine whether they could resume treatment.
While Fleming got a positive report from a kaupapa Maori practitioner with whom he was working, and his behaviour in prison had improved in the last month, the board said he remained an undue risk of release.
"Mr Fleming still has some serious work to do to reduce his risk of re-offending," Judge Ellis said.
Fleming's next parole hearing was set for February and though the board said he would have unlikely completed the necessary rehabilitative work it would be an opportunity to review his progress.
His sentence expires in July next year.
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