Career burglar back in jail
A biking burglar who isn’t slowing down at age 59 has been given his 19th jail sentence.
Over his career, Maunga Hohepa has been sentenced to a total of 35 years imprisonment.
His record includes 80 convictions for burglaries, and two aggravated robberies.
He was before Christchurch District Court Judge Christopher Somerville for another burglary.
“There aren’t many men in New Zealand who have a criminal record like yours, who at age 59 are still committing crimes that are inevitably going to lead to prison sentences,” said the judge.
Hohepa had pleaded guilty to three charges and was jailed for two years eleven months.
The court was told he had tried yet another daytime burglary on what appeared to be a house where no-one was home, to get money for his drug addiction.
Someone was home, and he assaulted him to try to get away.
He made his escape on a bicycle but the police caught up to him, and then he also assaulted a police officer as he still tried to get away.
His partner pleaded in court for a home detention sentence to be tried. She said Hohepa had many talents including music and carving. She was upset when the jail term was imposed.
Judge Somerville said the incident showed Hohepa would do almost anything to avoid arrest.
“I have got to worry about what will happen when you come back to the community, in some situation will someone end up dead? It’s a serious consideration,” said the judge.
He wanted Hohepa to attend a nine-month drug treatment programme while in prison, and wanted the Parole Board to allow pre-release to a residential drug rehabilitation programme.
He said he hoped that the rehabilitation would help Hohepa to develop strategies to ensure that this was his last time in prison.
Category: Focus
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