Crook reoffends because he can't face life on the outside

A Wellington man who has spent most of the last decade in prison is a classic case of inmates who cannot face life on the outside and commit crimes just to return behind bars, his lawyer says.

The man, who has a solvent abuse problem, will appear in court this week on an attempted burglary charge after allegedly smashing a window at a Newtown business.

Lawyer Rennie Gould said her client typified problems some inmates faced coping with freedom, after it was reported last week that 13 criminals on home detention had asked to return to prison to finish their sentence.

Ms Gould said her client had spent 9 1/2 of the past 10 years in prison. He had previously indicated he reoffended because he wanted to return to prison, where he felt comfortable.

He had been given the right to apply for home detention but the system made it "too difficult" for him to do the sentence at a residential treatment centre, she said.

"He has no life skills, he can't even cook for himself and has no family nearby to support him when he gets out," she said.

The man has an 11-page list of convictions for crimes usually committed to either get solvents to sniff, or committed while high on glue.

Alcohol and Drug Assessment and Counselling director Roger Brooking said he assessed the man in December and identified a serious solvent abuse problem, and other drink and drug problems, stemming from his father's death when he was six. His mother died four years ago.

Mr Brooking said the man had previously broken windows and stood waiting for the police to arrive and arrest him.

Ms Gould said she hoped to get the man, who is being held in custody, into a residential treatment centre in Opotiki.

- NZPA