School target of repeat burglar

A burglar ripped off the same Hamilton school three times in three weeks, stealing televisions and electronic equipment.

The New Plymouth District Court heard how Eruwera Cedric Williams’ offending was motivated by a need to feed his own family. But in doing so, his actions deprived the students of Te Kura Kaupapa Ma¯ ori o Te Ara Rima of equipment used to assist in their education.

The summary of facts outlined how the burglaries took place on either a Saturday or Sunday and after 8.30pm. In order to gain access to the classroom, Williams would smash a window.

Judge Chris Sygrove said the offending, which took place between April 29 and May 19 last year, netted the 25-year-old two 42-inch televisions, three Samsung Galaxy tablets and a radio.

Williams previously pleaded guilty to three burglaries and appeared for sentencing on Wednesday. Defence lawyer Paul Keegan said restorative justice was canvassed in the case but did not go ahead.

He said Williams was ‘‘stealing to support his family’’. The defendant, who had since relocated to New Plymouth, had a partner and two young children.

Keegan sought a sentence of community detention and supervision for the burglaries.

Prosecutor Jacob Bourke said the aggravated feature of the offending was the fact the same school had been targeted by Williams. He said the loss of the electronic items stolen by Williams had a ‘‘significant impact’’ on the school’s students.

Bourke sought a final jail term of 16 months but did not oppose this being transferred into home detention. Reparation was not sought as the losses were covered by insurance, he added.

Sygrove said Williams had ‘‘four pages’’ worth of criminal history, which included previous convictions for dishonesty. The judge said burglaries of this type attracted a term of imprisonment and he set a final starting point of 24 months.

After giving credit to Williams for his guilty pleas, a jail sentence of 18 months was fixed, which was then transferred into nine months’ home detention. Williams’ unpaid fines of $1250 were also remitted.