Dunedin District Court

A recidivist dishonesty offender was jailed for 15 months when dealt with in the Dunedin District Court last week on charges of burglary, dishonestly using a credit card and shoplifting.

Whetu John Lee (40), of Dunedin, had been convicted of burgling an Alva St boarding house from which he had been evicted and trespassed, dishonestly using a stolen credit card, and two shoplifting offences.

The police summary said Lee went to the Alva St property about 11pm on March 29, got a fish bin from a friend’s room and, in the communal kitchen, filled it with cutlery, crockery and miscellaneous items. He also filled a large black rubbish bag with frozen, refrigerated and dry goods belonging to various victims.

On March 20, a 61yearold man lost his wallet containing various forms of identification and a payWave credit card.

Heavily disguised, with a scarf tied around his chin, and wearing a baseball cap and a hoodie with its hood up, Lee used the payWave function of the man’s credit card to buy $62.50 worth of groceries. Between 9.15pm and 11.58pm the credit card was used for an additional four transactions. However, police were unable to attribute that offending to Lee.

About 12.18am on March 21, an unknown male tried to use the credit card to purchase food items at McDonald’s in Andersons Bay Rd. Because the card had been reported lost, the transactions were declined.

Soon after, the unknown male met Lee in the McDonald’s car park. The pair then left the area.

On March 21, Lee stole an electric winch and an electric nibbler, together valued at $638, from TopmacQ. The winch, valued at $399, was not recovered.

At Rebel Sports on April 8, Lee attempted to remove the security tag from a $139.99 pair of shoes. He ripped the shoes in the process and hid them.

Lee then removed the security tag on another pair of shoes and put one shoe down the front of his jeans. While he was doing so, a customer approached, result ing in him removing the shoe and fleeing.

Counsel Rhona Daysh said Lee had been described as one of Dunedin’s worst recidivist thieves ‘‘because he continually steals’’.

‘‘It seems he needs some sort of intervention to make him do things differently. He goes ‘back to back’ to prison over and over again.’’

But Judge Kevin Phillips said ‘‘every time he comes out, he’s on release conditions and rejects them. He’s a recidivist thief ’’.

To counsel’s comment ‘‘he goes to prison . . . and what happens’’, the judge said ‘‘the community gets a welldeserved break’’.

On the burglary, Lee was sentenced to 15 months’ jail, with six months’ release conditions from the sentence end.

Shorter concurrent terms were given on the other charges.

Lee is also to pay reparation of $62.50, $399 and $139.99.

Other convictions

A Michael Robert Marychurch (60), of Dunedin, drinkdriving, 684mcg (driving Honda in George St near Duke St lost control, struck parked vehicle, which shunted into second parked vehicle; Honda veered across road, hit third parked car, which was pushed into fourth vehicle; residents came out, removed defendant’s keys, pushed vehicle off road, called police; Marychurch said had had 11⁄2 jugs, was getting groceries before heading home), about 9.30pm, March 29, fined $400, court costs $130, reparation $7394.73 (made available by Marychurch for immediate payment), 12 months’ supervision; disqualified eight months; associated charge of careless driving, convicted and discharged.

A Langkay Clare Ann Reeves, also known as Claire Ann Reeves (30), driving while driver licence suspended, in Selwyn St, Timaru, at 11.12pm on May 7 (said driving ‘‘because they needed a driver’’) and in Narrowdale Rd, Milburn, about 2pm on May 21 (said had driven to see her partner, who was at Otago Correctional Facility), Timaru offence, 40 hours’ community work, disqualified six months from August 3, when suspension ends; Milburn offence, 50 hours’ community work (cumulative, making total hours 90), disqualified nine months (also from August 3). Judge said the offending ‘‘totally contemptuous’’ of the suspension.

A Bradley Kain McKenzie (21), kitchen hand, of Dunedin, driving while driver licence suspended, Helena St, about 10.30pm, June 3, fined $400, court costs $130, disqualified six months from August 11, when suspension ends.

A Lucy Jayne Mildon (31), of Balclutha, trespassing on The Ranch shearing quarters, assaulting a woman, threatening to kill the woman (victim in her room at shearing quarters, Mildon knocked on door, victim opened door, Mildon took unsuccessful swing at her then entered the room punching and kicking her abdomen and legs, threatened to kill her; as she was punching her right arm and pushing her on to her bed, male from another room intervened, restrained her), Milton, about 4.45pm, February 7, overall sentence three months’ community detention (curfewed 7pm7am daily), nine months’ supervision, $500 emotional harm reparation. Counsel Jim Takas said Mildon and victim good friends in the past, had a falling out; Mildon drunk on day, now pregnant, no longer uses alcohol. ‘‘Her life has changed dramatically.’’

A Bayley Joyce Carr (27), single parent, of Milton, jointly with another yet to be sentenced, stealing grocery items and petrol to value of $80 (pair asked by victim to check on his stock at his small farm; pair went to address, stole dog roll, pies and bread from freezer, milk and soft drink from fridge, Carr also took container of petrol from washhouse), Waitahuna Gully Rd, about noon, November 27, two months’ community detention (curfewed 8pm6am daily), 60 hours’ community work, reparation $50. Judge said victim really surprised and upset at theft by people he called friends, could not believe it when he viewed his CCTV. Judge noted Carr had limited prior offending ‘‘but surprise, surprise, it is dishonesty’’.

A Raymond Peter Walsh (30), painter, of Dunedin, trespassing on former partner’s address, Crimes Act assault on the woman, and accessing computer system (the woman’s smartphone) without authorisation, March 18, nine months’ supervision. A Cherrie Carmellia Sharp (44), of Mosgiel, intentional damage (defendant and male with whom in relationship had both been drinking alcohol; argument resulted in defendant being asked to leave and removed from dwelling; defendant then kicked glass pane in front door, causing pane to smash), about 9.15pm, June 23, sentence deferred six months, reparation not sought. Duty lawyer Rochelle Crossman said defendant not before court for some seven years; alcohol use an issue for her and she was now taking steps to change her behaviour.