‘Walking crime spree’ off to jail

A man described as a ‘‘walking crime spree’’ says he was out of control due to his methamphetamine addiction.

Ashley Lyle Scarlett, 29, was jailed for four years in the Christchurch District Court yesterday on

37 dishonesty and driving charges. The crime spree began when Scarlett got out of prison in 2018, and included breaking into cars to steal wallets and handbags, and then pawning items found in them. He used stolen credit cards to buy items, and stole goods from supermarkets and petrol from service stations.

Defence counsel Brittany Kenny said Scarlett had a bad methamphetamine addiction. He was remorseful and willing to attend restorative justice meetings with his victims, and had made efforts at rehabilitation while he was in prison.

Crown prosecutor Sean Mallett said Scarlett stole a van with

$250,000 worth of equipment in it from the Prebbleton Veterinary practice on March 1. It was returned undamaged, with nothing stolen.

Scarlett also rammed a police dog van, and the officer had to jump out of it. He then drove into a park, over a chain and into bollards before getting on the road again.

The Crown was seeking a minimum term of imprisonment.

Judge Stephen O’Driscoll said victim impact reports said that people were shaken and suspicious, with emotional harm caused to children.

He said many defendants had no understanding about the day-to-day consequences on their victims, and someone under the influence of drugs was more likely not to understand the impact of their offending.

Judge O’Driscoll called Scarlett a walking crime spree, with vulnerable victims the subject of his offending.

According to his pre-sentence report, Scarlett had 63 previous convictions and was rated as a high risk of reoffending.

Scarlett acknowledged he was out of control due to drug use, and wanted a residential treatment programme once out of prison.

The judge sentenced him to four years’ imprisonment but did not grant the minimum term of imprisonment.

Scarlett was also disqualified from driving for 15 months, and ordered to pay reparation of $17,672 when he is released from prison.