A Rotorua man who set fire to a police station cell after smuggling in a cigarette lighter strapped to his penis has been jailed for 13 months.
Henare Raukokore Swinton, 20, unemployed, has been sentenced in the Rotorua District Court after pleading guilty to intentional damage, obstructing police and stealing a car.
The court was told Swinton was held on remand in the Rotorua police station cells on October 22 after admitting the previous day to stealing a car.
He was to be taken to Waikeria Prison but became frustrated about being on remand and decided to damage the cells.
Swinton lit a series of small fires in the cell, causing $225 worth of damage.
He also fought with a police officer, yelled obscenities and refused to do what he was asked.
Judge Phillip Cooper said Swinton's actions could have caused serious injury to other prisoners.
An application for home detention was declined.
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