Burglary coincidence rubbished

A judge has rejected a man’s claim that it was ‘‘coincidence’’ he burgled several Christchurch businesses in the hours after the Kaikoura earthquake.

Michael Taui Wetere, 35, committed three burglaries while police were involved in tsunami alert evacuations after a magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck North Canterbury on November 14.

While police were involved keeping people safe in Christchurch’s eastern suburbs, Wetere struck on the other side of the city.

‘‘I don’t accept that this offending after the Kaikoura earthquake was simply a coincidence,’’ Judge Stephen O’Driscoll said.

The three burglaries were among 11 charges Wetere admitted in the Christchurch District Court in June, and he was sentenced to five years and four months’ jail yesterday.

He admitted eight burglaries, receiving stolen property, possession of tools for committing burglaries, and unlawfully taking a car that was used in some of the burglaries.

Losses and damage totalled $73,962.

Judge O’Driscoll said Wetere claimed he carried out the burglaries because a gang had imposed a $100,000 fine on him.

‘‘It doesn’t wash with me,’’ he said.

He noted Wetere had 64 previous convictions including seven burglaries.

He had been jailed for three years in 2003 for burglary.

‘‘You are clearly a slow learner. A substantial term didn’t deter you from going out and committing further offences,’’ the judge said.

He made no reparation order because any payment by Wetere was unrealistic.