A 24-year-old man who mugged a Rotorua woman in broad daylight has become so institutionalised he finds life easier behind bars, a court has heard.
Customline Ford was sentenced in the Rotorua District Court yesterday to two years and nine months' prison after having previously pleaded guilty to robbing the 62-year-old woman in Maida Vale St in Fenton Park about 10.50am on June 3.
The sentence included two months for breaching his release conditions.
Judge Arthur Tompkins said Ford had ridden up on his bike behind the woman, pushed her over and stolen her handbag. She had suffered concussion, bruising and grazes and required hospital treatment.
He said Ford had been released from prison only in November and had an extensive criminal history that ran to seven pages.
Ford's lawyer, Aroha Cooper, said her client "hadn't had a great early life". He was born with congenital disabilities and had suffered several head injuries as a result of his upbringing and the people he had associated with since birth, she said.
"Mr Ford says he understands he has become institutionalised. He finds living in the normal community very difficult," she said.
"Life seems to be for him easier in custody ... he knows where his food's coming from."
She said Ford was remorseful for his actions and had told her it was "not the sort of thing he would like to happen to his mother or an aunty".
A letter of remorse had been written on his behalf as he could not read or write, she said.
Ford then addressed Judge Tompkins directly.
"I am going to be a changed man when I get out of jail and you will not see me in court again," he said.
The judge gave Ford credit for his guilty plea and remorse.
"Despite his best intentions ... [Ford] will require extreme rehabilitative intervention, both in prison and subsequent," Judge Tompkins said.
"[The sentence] might give Mr Ford time to participate in rehabilitative programmes including literacy and numeracy whilst in prison."