Dunedin District Court

A ‘‘BLATANT’’ burglary in which he took a motorbike, and a related charge of driving while his licence was suspended, brought nine months’ jail and 13 months’ disqualification for a man sentenced in the Dunedin District Court yesterday.

Shayne Lyall Michelle (28), of Dunedin, was also to pay reparation amounting to $575.18, Judge Kevin Phillips said.

Michelle was being dealt with on convictions for burgling a Koremata St building and driving while his driver licence was suspended, on June 25.

Counsel Marie TaylorCyphers said it was accepted Michelle had been abducted and was lost.

‘‘But for the abduction this would never have happened.’’

Michelle had been in custody on remand since July 4. He had moved to Dunedin from Timaru to care for family members who were ill, Ms TaylorCyphers said.

Judge Phillips acknowledged police accepted Michelle had been taken from an address by four unknown men and taken to the Blackhead area.

Afterwards, Michelle walked through paddocks and, at 8.30am, he went to the back of a property where the victim’s wife and children were at home. He climbed the fence, went into the victim’s garage and took a motorcycle, the judge said.

Michelle later painted it and stored it in a locked shed. When police recovered it in June, Michelle stated he had come across it in an alley.

The judge told Michelle that once he reached the property ‘‘there was no need for you to do what you did . . . but you saw fit to act criminally’’.

The judge noted Michelle had ‘‘fronted’’ at restorative justice and had apologised.

He also noted Michelle had previous convictions for burglary and driving while disqualified or suspended.

For the burglary, Michelle was sentenced to nine months’ jail (with six months’ release conditions), and ordered to pay reparation of $325.18 and $250.

Driving while suspended brought six months’ jail (concurrent), and one year and one month’s driving disqualification.