A fugitive who was on the run for three years has been sentenced to almost two years in prison.

Neil Anderson pleaded guilty to 37 charges including escaping custody, burglary, intentional damage, failing to appear and driving offences last month after handing himself in to Picton police.

The 48-year-old eluded capture since February 2012 when he made a bid for freedom, climbing out a hospital window handcuffed and hooked up to his heart monitoring machine.

His defence today told the Christchurch District Court Anderson sees a bright future for himself.

Judge Raoul Neave sentenced him to 23 months in prison and he’s disqualified from driving for 15 months.