February 05, 2010

Fugitive Stewart jailed, accused of vanity

By David Clarkson

Infamous fugitive William Alexander Stewart — now facing a seven year four month jail term — was accused of being vain and courting publicity during his months on the run from police in rural Canterbury.

The 48-year-old voiced his own apology to his victims at his sentencing in the Christchurch District Court today on the 47 charges he had admitted.

He apologised “to my parents and all the people I have inconvenienced” and he offered to meet and apologise to his victims face to face if they wished.

Judge Stephen Erber accepted the remorse but pointed out that Stewart had not helped the police in recovering a huge amount of stolen property, and nor had he named the people who had helped him.

The judge imposed a non-parole term of two thirds of the sentence — four years and 10 months — and ordered that Stewart eventually pay $75,000 in reparations back to his victims.

That is only a fraction of the total of about $350,000 for the loss and damage he caused. He has claimed some success in the past in land deals, but Judge Erber said full repayment was beyond his reasonable resources.

Stewart is also disqualified from driving for a year, having led the police on three high speed chases. His jail term will start when his present term for violence and kidnapping ends in a few months.

Judge Erber said his behaviour was extreme and he became addicted to self-advertisement.

“You offended in part because you were vain and courted publicity which the media were not slow to supply,” said the judge. “That emboldened you to continue the wave of offending.”

Among the victim impact reports, one victim referred to the media treating Stewart’s seven months on the run as a joke.

Stewart was described in his pre-sentence report as intelligent and articulate, though Judge Erber also noted he suffered from dyslexia.

Defence counsel Glenn Henderson said Stewart had worked as a property developer and landscaper and had been able to generate a good income at various times in his life. He had no previous burglary convictions.

Stewart was quite insightful about what happened and described it as becoming “somewhat surreal”.

Victims seemed upset that his activities had caused changes to their relaxed rural lifestyle and were concerned that Stewart had become a bit of a folk hero.

Crown prosecutor Sara Jamieson described the offending as persistent and repetitive with a large amount of loss and damage caused. In the case of a pharmacy burglary he had caused thousands of dollars of damage to get stock worth $160 — pseudo-ephedrine.

After months in custody after his arrest on May 27, Stewart pleaded guilty to 23 charges of burglary, five of unlawfully taking vehicles, thefts, interfering with vehicles, escaping from custody, dangerous driving, failing to stop for the police, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a pipe for smoking methamphetamine, possession of cannabis resin and cannabis leaf, unlawfully being in a yard, breach of bail, and breach of release conditions.

Judge Erber said he had gone on the run when he heard a warrant had been issued for his recall to prison for breaching his parole.

He claimed he was running because he was frightened of the police because of an earlier beating.

He noted Stewart’s willingness to attend restorative justice conferences where he would meet his victims and apologise. Some victims had dismissed the idea but others said they were willing to consider it after Stewart was sentenced.

He imposed a non-parole term of four years ten months because Stewart would have been eligible to be considered for release after only two years five months. “That would be insufficient for his impact on the citizens of Mid-Canterbury as a whole.”

Stewart had stood throughout the long sentencing, with his wrists manacled to his belt. He managed a rueful expression as he was led back to the cells.