‘High end’ cars targeted for chop shop
A man who targeted high-end vehicles at a car “chop shop” has been jailed for five years at the Christchurch District Court.
Paul Charles Anderson, 39, was sentenced on three charges of receiving stolen property, three of theft of cars, arson, obtaining by deception, and driving while suspended.
Anderson had pleaded guilty during his trial, and his co-offender had been found guilty by the jury.
Defence counsel Rupert Glover said Anderson had spent time in custody and did not want to go there again. His employer was offering to pay reparation immediately and Anderson could work for him to pay it off, he said.
Judge Paul Kellar said Anderson stole and received cars during 2014 and 2015, including a mobile cabin which he was found living in. He had painted it, and landscaped around it.
He had also received a car from an owner who wanted to claim insurance for it.
Judge Kellar said Anderson’s offending was premeditated and planned to a high degree. Anderson targeted high-end cars, and his victims would have suffered a good deal of inconvenience and financial loss.
Anderson set one of the cars on fire, which had the potential to endanger lives, Judge Kellar said.
Anderson had 73 previous convictions including theft of cars, receiving, and burglary.
The judge said it was obvious at the trial that Anderson’s text messaging was his undoing, and he pleaded guilty to the charges during it. He sentenced him to prison for five years, and disqualified him from driving for one year and one day.
His co-offender in some of the thefts, Shane Anthony Harvey, 30, was sentenced on four charges of theft of cars, burglary, theft, and theft from a car.
Judge Kellar said he had less involvement, but stolen car registration labels were found in his rubbish bin, and stolen items at his property.
Harvey had 46 prior convictions for thefts, receiving, and burglary.
His pre-sentence report said his offending followed a pattern of impulsiveness and poor problem solving, and he was a methamphetamine user. He had no empathy or remorse for his victims.
Harvey was found guilty by the jury at his trial, and was sentenced to two years six months in prison.
Category: News
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