Left in hospital by gangland bash

A gang member’s attempts to leave his criminal life behind landed him in hospital for two weeks.

Murray James Allan pleaded guilty in the Christchurch District Court yesterday to nine firearms, drugs and dishonesty charges, but told Judge Jane Farish that trying to leave the Tribesman gang resulted in a severe beating.

They are unlawful possession of a sawn-off pump-action shotgun, possession of a meth pipe, and a restricted weapon – pepper spray, as well as breach of his sex offender registration rules, breach of prison release conditions, dishonestly taking a car, possession of cannabis and methamphetamine, and unlawful possession of ammunition.

Some of the charges arose from an incident where he cut off his electronically monitored bail bracelet and went on the run.

Allen gave evidence at his twoday judge-alone trial this week, trying his best to explain the boot full of fresh burglary loot and a sawn-off shotgun police found when they stopped his car.

The 25-year-old is now back in custody facing sentencing in September. He wants to move to Nelson when he is sentenced – Judge Farish has told him he would most likely get a ‘‘restrictive rehabilitative sentence’’.

Defence counsel Serina Bailey said rehabilitation was crucial. ‘‘He has got some [criminal] history and a long-term drug habit.’’

Allan has had a very bad time with police stops.

In February 2017, he pulled out an imitation pistol and was shot in the face by police. He got 18 months in jail.

Then, after his release from prison, after he took back his car which had been taken by someone while he was in prison. The car was reported stolen and a police stop found the boot full of laptops and other items taken in a burglary only hours before.