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'Gang of thieves' crime ring leader pleads guilty
The 22-year-old ring leader of a $220,000 burglary and theft ring busted by the police?s Operation Bac investigation has pleaded guilty to 17 charges and will join his fellow offenders for sentence in November.
The crime ring was described by a judge as a ?gang of thieves? when a co-offender pleaded guilty in June.
Four of them are now set for the combined sentencing at the Rangiora Court House on November 8, and another man has already been jailed for two years on 12 charges of theft and receiving stolen property.
The leader of the group, Luke Aaron Peter Shailor pleaded guilty to 17 burglaries after the crown agreed to withdraw nine charges at a Christchurch District Court sitting inside the men?s prison today.
He will stay in custody awaiting sentencing and Judge Gary MacAskill today ruled that home detention was unrealistic and refused to order a report on his suitability for that sentence.
Crown prosecutor Kathy Basire said home detention had already effectively been ruled out for other offenders from the same investigation who had admitted fewer burglaries than Shailor.
She said Shailor was ?the acknowledged ring leader?.
Police say the crime ring caused losses totalling $220,000, targeting such items as high-end electronic goods for shoplifting, including Ipads, televisions, and a home theatre system.
A reparation schedule was handed up but the court was not told how much would be Shailor?s share.
Defence counsel Elizabeth Bulger told the court: ?It will be a question of ability to pay it, rather than how much it is.?
