Escape attempt stopped by lamp post

HASTINGS , New Zealand - New Zealand authorities said a
lamp post and a pair of handcuffs foiled an escape attempt
by two prisoners from a courthouse. Security staff at
Hastings District Court on New Zealand's North Island said
the two men ran from the courthouse but were stopped when
they attempted to run on either side of a lamp post,
apparently forgetting they were handcuffed together,
Britain's The Daily Telegraph reported Thursday. "As they
were being led from the Hastings police cells... they made
a bolt for freedom," Hastings police sergeant Dave Greig
said. "They fell over and they were sprayed with pepper
spray. But they got up and ran out of the court onto the
street, across the road to a car park," he said. "That's
where they met the pole -- it was all over, rover." Regan
Reti, 20, had been convicted prior to the escape attempt
of assault and sentenced to more than two years in jail.
He pleaded guilty to charges of escaping from custody and
a month was added to his prison sentence. Tiranara White,
21, who was jailed at the courthouse while awaiting trial
on charges of stealing a car and violating his parole
conditions, did not enter a plea for the escaping charge.
He remains in police custody awaiting a psych evaluation,
Greig said