A 37-year-old man has been recalled to prison to serve a long sentence after he was arrested for bashing a nurse heading for work at Christchurch Hospital and trying to grab her handbag.
The Rangiora coronary care nurse needed about 12 stitches in a deep cut
to her lip after the 6.40am robbery attempt that happened only about 100m from the hospital on August 31.
Edward Tauriki Thompson has been remanded in custody since his arrest that day and the Christchurch District Court heard today that he was on parole at the time.
He has now been recalled to prison to serve three-and-a-half years remaining on that sentence, and he will appear on January 25 for sentence on two charges he admitted today: assaulting the woman with intent to rob, and possession of cannabis.
Judge Gary MacAskill called for a pre-sentence report on the forklift driver.
Police said Thompson attacked the 46-year-old nurse from behind on Riccarton Avenue, bashing her to the ground and trying to rip her handbag from her. The woman screamed, kept hold of her handbag, and memorised the registration number of her attacker's car. Thompson was arrested that morning.
- NZPA
