September 14, 2012

Teenager jailed for damage rampage

By Anne Clarkson

Christchurch had been destroyed by Mother Nature and should not have to endure the damage inflicted by an 18-year-old woman, said the judge who jailed the teenager for 25 months.

Harmony Linsy Harris went on a rampage last May when she and a co-offender set fire to a plastic tunnel in a playground in the Paeroa Street Reserve in Riccarton.

They then went into a car sales yard and found a car unlocked with the keys in the glove box. Harris couldn?t drive the car out of the yard, so she drove it into 17 other cars causing damage worth $53,192.

Crown prosecutor at the Christchurch District Court sentencing Arpana Raj said the two targeted the children?s playground, and it was accepted that there was little chance of reparation being paid by Harris.

Defence counsel Ruth Buddicom said the vandalism in the commercial premises was spontaneous, unplanned, and unsophisticated.

She said Harris wanted to leave the co-offender earlier, but felt threatened and was threatened by her, and she regretted doing the driving in the car yard.

Harris was intoxicated when she set the fire and when it took hold she immediately regretted it, she said. Harris took responsibility, and had shown remorse.

Judge Phil Gittos said Harris had been charged with arson, breach of community work, intentional damage, and burglary.

He said she met her co-offender while in prison and when released they got together, and committed two foolish, damaging, and serious offences.

He told Harris that this town had been destroyed by Mother Nature, without Harris destroying by fire a playground that children could have used.

He said Harris?s co-offender had a bigger previous history, including starting fires, but this was Harris?s first arson.

He sentenced her to 25 months prison and cancelled her community work.