Teetotaller stole box of beer

A man has been sentenced to six months’ community detention for burglary and stealing a box of Double Brown beer.

Hemi Tauakume appeared before Judge Bill Hastings at Porirua District Court last Tuesday charged with burglary and shoplifting.

Defence lawyer Sarah Pettett told the court Tauakume had been the lookout during the June burglary and had not entered the Marere Ave, Kapiti, house himself.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Paul Macky said it was an opportunistic burglary.

He said police found Tauakume hiding in bushes at a nearby playground.

Tauakume had pleaded guilty to the burglary charge and co-operated with police.

Despite being a non- drinker, Tauakume was also charged over stealing a box of Double Brown beer from a Kapiti Coast Four Square, valued at $32.40.

As he was driving away, Tauakume was pulled over by police. He was breath tested and returned a zero breath alcohol reading.

The judge gave Tauakume credit for his co-operation with police and noted the 23-year-old tiler had been described as a reliable employee.

He said that normally he would sentence someone with three previous burglaries to jail time, but Probation Services had written ‘‘a hopeful report’’ about Tauakume.