Recidivist shoplifter sentenced
A man stole more than $1500 in goods from retailers in Timaru and Ashburton while serving a sentence for similar offending.
Just six weeks after being sentenced to community work on seven counts of shoplifting, Desmond Ronald John Burton was at it again – loading a backpack with $50 worth of food at a Timaru supermarket and leaving without paying.
Burton, 44, was sentenced to four months’ community detention, nine months’ supervision, and ordered to pay $700 in reparation when he appeared before Judge Tom Gilbert in the Timaru District Court on Thursday.
He had pleaded guilty to three counts of shoplifting and one each of theft, breaching community work, and breaching bail.
In a summary of facts presented to the court, police prosecutor Sergeant Ian Howard said Burton put his backpack in a shopping trolley and entered Pak ’n Save on Evans St, about 12.50pm on September 10, 2020.
He began filling the trolley with food products, sneaking the items into his backpack as he continued combing the shelves.
‘‘The defendant put the bag over his shoulders, left the trolley in one of the aisles, and walked out of the store via the self-serve checkout,’’ Howard said.
‘‘In explanation, the defendant stated he went into Pak ’n Save to take food and leave without paying for it.’’
Burton loaded a trolley with an impact driver, hoodie, a security safe, and fireproof chest valued at $869.95 in total at Mitre 10 Mega on Bank St, Timaru, about 11.30am on October 4.
‘‘The defendant then exited the store via the internal entrance door, which is meant to be for incoming one-way foot traffic only,’’ Howard said.
‘‘The defendant was stopped by a store worker, who requested he show her his receipt.’’
After telling the store worker his partner had his receipt inside the store, he left the area and discarded the stolen items in a nearby property.
‘‘Nil reparation is sought, as all items were recovered and returned to Mitre 10 Mega.’’
Ten days later, Burton uplifted six backpacks and a blanket from Coin Save on East St, Ashburton, about 1.37pm.
When questioned by police, he stated he stole the $400 worth of items because ‘‘he saw an opportunity so he took it’’, Howard said.
Burton failed to appear in court on the charges on November 3. The next day, he stole a $250 car battery from outside Austin Auto Electrical on Church St, Timaru, about 11.45am.
He was driving past the store when he spotted car batteries on a stand outside, at which point he parked his car.
‘‘Armed with a pair of cutters, he exited the vehicle and walked past the store, glancing inside as he went and continued past. A few seconds later, he turned and headed back to the store,’’ Howard said.
‘‘Using the cutters, the defendant cut the security strap holding a battery to the stand.
‘‘He lifted the battery off and carried it away to his car, with no attempt made to go inside and make payment.’’
Burton stated to police he saw the $250 battery and ‘‘decided to take it’’, Howard said.
Judge Gilbert said Burton had only served about half of the community work sentence imposed in July last year for a previous shoplifting spree.
‘‘You have not been fully-compliant with that sentence,’’ the judge said.
‘‘The [pre-sentence] report writer doesn’t have much confidence you can complete community work. I hope you can prove him or her wrong.’’
Judge Gilbert ordered Burton to pay the reparation at $25 a week.
‘‘If you keep on shoplifting like this, the next step is probably prison for you, so might I suggest you stop.’’