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Offender Databases Brendan Shiels

Brendan Joseph Shiels

Alias

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Offences

Serious assault on a two Corrections officers in March 2005, the male prison officer suffered severe head injuries, the female officer permanent hearing loss
This happened only a month after his release on parole from earlier crimes. A huge string of previous offences for escaping custody, injuring with intent to do grievous bodily harm, assaulting police officers (at least half a dozen times), aggravated assault, common assault, damaging a police car, unlawful taking a motor vehicle, using a car as a weapon, unlawfully selling a car, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, failing to stop for a police car using its lights and siren, endangering transport, endangering public safety, breaking and entering, wilful damage, resisting arrest, breaches of bail and PD, aggravated robbery etc

Victims

.

Offender Affiliations

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Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1981

Current Location

Prison

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to 5 years 6 months in September 2002
Sentenced to 5 years 3 months in September 2005
Sentenced to 5 years in December 2005
All sentences are cumulative - totaling 15 years 9 months
Escaped on 17th Aug 2005, recaptured as of 7th Sept 2005
Parole hearing set down August 2009
Will be out by sentence end date February 2018

Background
NZ Herald story here
Police news release here
Department of Corrections news release here

Christchurch Press story 19th August 2005
Brendan Joseph Shiels, 24, escaped from Christchurch Men's Prison on Tuesday night – his second escape bid in three years – after breaking into a tradesman's workshop within the grounds. Police and the Corrections Department did not make the incident public until yesterday. Shiels is described by police as dangerous and the public are warned not to approach him.

Although authorities have so far expressed no concern at the way the escape was handled, documents obtained by The Press show the escape unfolded almost like a comedy. They show Shiels was seen by the two officers beginning his escape at 11.10pm. The officers were standing in the east wing guardroom and, over the next two minutes, stood by as Shiels spoke to other inmates and then scaled the block's internal roof. He then smashed windows and a wall panel to make his escape from the wing.

At 11.14pm, Shiels was on the east wing roof, and the two officers informed the jail's security officer. A minute later, the security officer told them to remain in the guardroom until a response team had assembled. At 11.20pm, they began an external check of the prison. In the meantime, Shiels had broken into the prison workshop, where he obtained a ladder. He then made his way to the perimeter fence and freedom.

Instead of a rebuke, the officers' action earned the praise of site manager Paul Rushton, who said in a message to staff: "I am in no doubt your actions and behaviour throughout the time of escape was most professional and correct, especially in respect of (the two officers), who were faced with a very difficult situation."

Public Prisons Service general manager Phil McCarthy said staff "reacted immediately when Shiels was observed on security monitors". "It is too soon to provide details about the escape, but early indications are that staff acted appropriately but were unable to prevent the escape," he said.

Less than four months ago, Corrections chief executive Barry Matthews announced an overhaul of security at the prison after an investigation into an incident last year when Peter Anaru Matehaere used a stolen hacksaw and a ladder left lying around by contractors to escape.

"At this early stage, it appears that all ladders and tools at the prison were locked away and secure," McCarthy said yesterday. "Corrections has implemented a nationwide tool-checking procedure to ensure workers' tools and equipment were kept secure after a prisoner used contractors' equip ment to escape last year," McCarthy said.

Shiels' previous bid for freedom was in September 2002 when he escaped from a prison van while being driven to the Christchurch District Court. A few days later, he was choked to a standstill by a member of the public as he tried to steal the man's Mercedes-Benz.At the time, Shiels was facing charges of ramming four police cars and punching a passer-by while on the run from police in a stolen car in May 2002. The police chase, which resulted in $38,000 of damage, ended in Ashburton when an officer wrestled Shiels to the ground. Shiels was subsequently sentenced to 5 years 6 months jail. Police said yesterday that Shiels "is considered dangerous and should not be approached by the public".

"The prisoner was seen on a roof before going over a fence. "Corrections notified police at the time and cordons were put in place. Dog units were used. However, he was not apprehended." Shiels is described as Maori, of thin build, weighing 80kg and 1.74m tall. He was wearing jeans cut off at the knees, no shirt and sneakers. Any sightings of Shiels should be reported to the police on 363 7400.

A prisoner who escaped from police custody at the Christchurch Central police station on Wednesday night was recaptured yesterday. Ryan Edward Tritt, 22, was apprehended in Christchurch and is due to appear in court today

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Corrections and Additional Information
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