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Home / Northern Advocate

ED Lines: Prisoner with escape clause

By Craig Cooper
Northern Advocate·
11 Oct, 2011 09:40 PM2 mins to read

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The phrase "on the run" might conjure up romantic images for some, but the reality is we're talking about wanted criminals who should be in jail.

On Sunday evening, as I edited a story about Aaron Forden - a criminal who had been caught after escaping from Whangarei's courthouse - I read the phrase "he will be sentenced in Whangarei District Court next month".

I added the phrase, "presuming he does not escape".

Forden escaped the next day.

This is a guy who has become known as Houdini for his repeat escape acts, which have left police, security personnel and prison officials red-faced.

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In 2009, William Stewart inspired Facebook pages, a song and a national "where's Billy day" (albeit in Hamilton) after eluding police for more than 100 consecutive days in the South Island.

Cumulatively, Forden has probably totted up 100 days as well.

Stewart was a P addict who had threatened police and disappeared.

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He survived by burgling homes and stealing cars, and was eventually caught on May 27, 2009, a few days after a police officer stated "we have no idea where he is".

Forden is hiding out in less remote country than Stewart and could probably head this way.

He has ties with Northland and has been caught here before, after getting into an argument in a pub.

He seems to be a social animal, fond of a few drinks and confident his latest look - disguise would be going too far - will shield him from capture.

The thing is, it seems that police don't have to work too hard to capture him.

Forden can't resist placing himself in situations where he gets in trouble and attracts attention.

So we can be relatively confident he will be caught again - he's not a loner or recluse like William Stewart.

When they do catch him, one hopes extra security measures will be put in place, he literally needs to be locked up and the key thrown away.



Assuming he does not escape again.

Want to contact Craig Cooper and express an opinion email: editor@northernadvocate.co.nz

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