Man admits having $40k of stolen honey
A man caught with $40,000 of stolen ma¯ nuka honey has been jailed and the honey has been returned to its owners, but it may be worthless.
Hastings man James O’Keefe, 41, was found with the honey in three
300kg drums in June last year. The drums of honey had been stolen from a shed at Haines Honey in Kaitaia between January 18 and
19.
On June 14 O’Keefe approached a resident of an orchard on Te Aute Rd, Hawke’s Bay and asked if he could store the drums on the property.
The resident agreed but then called police. When police spoke to O’Keefe he said the drums were his and he had bought them from another man in a business deal.
The drums of honey were returned to Haines Honey.
O’Keefe, who has been in custody since August last year, appeared in Hastings District Court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving.
Judge Bridget Mackintosh sentenced him to 15 months imprisonment.
Haines Honey owner Bruce Robertson said he may not be able to use the honey. ‘‘It may be worth nothing. I don’t want to touch it to be honest. They drums are in quite a battered and dented shape. They haven’t been kept clean or anything. They’re not a pretty sight,’’ he said.
‘‘We need to test it and everything like that to see if it’s contaminated. It’s definitely devalued now, and will only be able to be used on the domestic market. We don’t sell much on the domestic market,’’ he said.
He said the drums were among six that were stolen at the same time. Two had been recovered in bush near the shed they were stolen from, and one was still outstanding.
Robertson said they had been insured and there ‘‘ongoing discussions’’ with his insurance company about what would be covered.
‘‘It’s pleasing the police caught him, but it doesn’t end there for us, unfortunately,’’ Robertson said.