Jail for repeated raids on holiday home
An Oamaru man was described as the “ringleader” of a group who repeatedly burgled a holiday home at Fairlie and took property totalling $55,000 including two jetskis on a tandem trailer.
Judge John Strettell jailed 27-year-old Jade Luke Lamatoa for two years six months at his sentencing which took place by video-link in the Christchurch District Court.
Lamatoa and the judge and police prosecutor were present in court, while the submissions by his defence counsel, Sarah Saunderson-Warner, were presented over the video-link.
Judge Strettell had found Lamatoa guilty at a trial in the Timaru District Court in September, when he said the evidence against him was “overwhelming”.
The police case included evidence from Lamatoa’s former girlfriend, Jennifer Mouatt, who had also taken part.
The judge said he gained the impression that Lamatoa was the ringleader of the enterprise and that Mouatt was under his influence.
Others involved have already been sentenced.
Lamatoa had effectively carried out four burglaries of the holiday home, which had been brought together as one prosecution.
Evidence was heard that he travelled to Fairlie from Oamaru four times – first to look around the holiday home, then to take jet skis, before a third visit to take the jet ski keys, and a fourth to take a buggy and another trailer.
Some items stolen in the burglaries were found when police searched Lamatoa’s Oamaru address.
Some of the stolen property has been returned to the owner, but those convicted have been ordered to pay a $2150 share of the outstanding reparations. A similar order was made against Lamatoa.
Judge Strettell noted that Lamatoa’s criminal record included six previous convictions for burglary, and five for other dishonesty offences.
Category: News
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