Key Takeaways
- Brooking was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment for unlawful firearm possession, intentional damage, receiving, and driving while disqualified.
- He has a lengthy criminal record, including prior prison‑damage incidents at Rolleston and Christchurch Men’s prisons and a failed 2023 High Court bid to reduce a sentence.
- Police sought a Firearms Prohibition Order, citing alleged gang affiliation, but the judge found insufficient evidence to grant it.
- The judge acknowledged Brooking’s potential and insight, while noting his early school leaving, substance‑abuse history, addictive personality, and traumatic upbringing.
- Besides prison time, Brooking received a 12‑month driving disqualification and was ordered to pay reparation for road‑damage caused by illegal markings.
- NZ Transport Agency warned that illegal road markings endanger pedestrians and incur costly removal efforts.
Background of the Offending
Around the same time as the firearm incident, Brooking was observed as a passenger in a vehicle while tape was being wrapped around a gun. He was already under police investigation after a tip‑off. A fortnight earlier, he had broken into a residence and stolen a crossbow, which police later recovered during a raid on his home on 14 October. Ten days after that raid, a loaded shotgun with four shells was discovered in his garage and seized by authorities.
Court Appearance and Charges
This week Brooking appeared in the Christchurch District Court for sentencing on charges that included unlawfully carrying and possessing a firearm, intentional damage, receiving property, and driving while disqualified. Judge Raoul Neave presided over the hearing and outlined the factual matrix leading to the charges, emphasizing the sequence of events that brought Brooking before the court.
Prior Criminal History
Judge Neave highlighted Brooking’s extensive involvement with the justice system. He noted that Brooking had previously caused thousands of dollars’ worth of damage at two Canterbury prisons. In 2020, he climbed onto the roof of Rolleston Prison, refused to return to his cell, and inflicted more than $30,000 in damage by tearing up roofing iron, smashing windows, and destroying security cameras.
Further Prison Incidents
Two months after the Rolleston episode, following his transfer to Christchurch Men’s Prison, Brooking participated in a riot involving four other inmates. During the disturbance, furniture, fixtures, and fittings were damaged, adding to his record of institutional misconduct.
Failed Legal Bid for Sentence Reduction
In 2023, Brooking unsuccessfully applied to the High Court to reduce a two‑year prison sentence that had been imposed for a series of offences: threatening to kill, intentional damage, attempting to pervert the course of justice, breaching bail, receiving, and dangerous driving. The court’s denial of that application underscored the seriousness with which his prior conduct was viewed.
Firearms Prohibition Order Request
At the recent sentencing, police urged the imposition of a Firearms Prohibition Order, arguing that Brooking met the threshold as a gang member. Such an order would have barred him from possessing or accessing firearms, ammunition, and related items. Judge Neave, however, declined the application, stating that he had seen no concrete evidence to support the claim of gang affiliation or the necessity for the order.
Sentencing Decision and Judicial Remarks
Judge Neave sentenced Brooking to 21 months’ imprisonment, disqualified him from driving for 12 months, and ordered him to pay reparation for the damage caused to the road. Addressing Brooking directly, the judge acknowledged a degree of insight on his part, describing it as positive, and remarked that Brooking likely possessed potential. He also noted that Brooking left school at age 13, a comprehensive assessment revealed a history of drug and alcohol abuse, and that an addictive personality—including gambling—played a role in his behaviour.
Context of Upbringing and Trauma
The judge observed that Brooking’s upbringing had involved significant exposure to the justice system, which had caused substantial trauma. This background was presented as a mitigating factor, though not sufficient to outweigh the need for accountability and protection of the public.
Transport Agency Response
After sentencing, a spokesperson for the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi expressed hope that the penalty would deter similar conduct. They warned that painting public roads with unapproved, non‑compliant road markings puts lives at risk, especially when such markings encourage pedestrians to cross busy roads where drivers do not anticipate a crossing point. The spokesperson added that removing illegal markings is costly and time‑consuming, often requiring road closures that inconvenience all road users.
About the Reporter
Al Williams is an Open Justice reporter for the New Zealand Herald, based in Christchurch. He has worked in daily and community titles across New Zealand and overseas for the past 16 years, most recently serving as editor of the Hauraki‑Coromandel Post in Whangamatā, and previously as deputy editor of the Cook Islands News.