August 12, 2011

Burglar raided laptops at seven schools

By Anne Clarkson at Rangiora Court House

A teenage burglar has got home detention so he can work to pay back $39,550 for the property he stole, including laptop computers from seven Christchurch schools.

James Matthew Taylor was granted home detention for 10 months because his father offered to employ him and make him pay his debt.

But he was also warned that if he did not comply with the sentence he would be sent to jail for more than two years.

Taylor was sentenced after admitting 13 burglaries, four unlawfully in yard charges, possession of instruments for burglary, and two breaches of bail, in the Christchurch District Court sitting at the Rangiora Court House.

Defence counsel Rupert Glover said Taylor?s father would supply the home detention address, where he would get 24-hour-a-day strong and clear supervision. His father would also employ him so he could pay back the reparation in $400-a-week instalments.

Mr Glover said Taylor had spent some time in custody and did not want it to continue.

Judge Jane Farish said Taylor was in court in August last year for possession of instruments and being unlawfully in a yard.

He was on bail when he burgled a boarding house he was staying in. He took readily saleable items, but they had high sentimental value, she said.

There were three years of photographs on a laptop computer, and family jewellery taken. The residents became fearful someone had spent so much time going through their property, and were worried the intruder would return.

Judge Farish said after the February earthquake Taylor was desperate for money to pay a drug debt. ?

He stole laptop computers from seven schools: Cobham Intermediate, Elmwood Intermediate, Waimairi School, Elmwood School, Breens Intermediate, Kirkwood Intermediate, and St Andrews College.

She said he admitted the burglaries to the police, who did not know he had committed them, and was genuinely remorseful.

With the home detention sentence he is also under judicial monitoring, and Judge Farish will receive a report every three months on his progress.

She also ordered special conditions that Taylor undertake alcohol and drug assessment and participate in any programme recommended by his probation officer, which was to include a rehabilitation programme.

Judge Farish warned Taylor that if there was a fall-out with his father there would be no second address considered for him, and he would go to jail.