April 30, 2013

Road spikes halted crime spree

By David Clarkson at Nga Hau e Wha marae. A second man is in custody after road spikes stopped his crime spree in a high speed chase near Blenheim.

Unemployed 19-year-old James Stuart Smith will stay in custody for his sentencing on June 26, after he admitted 13 charges at the Christchurch District Court sitting at Nga Hau e Wha marae yesterday.

His cousin, 23-year-old Christopher John Smith admitted his part in the spree last week and is already in custody for sentence on June 27.

Judge Jacki Moran told James Smith: ?It is clear from the police summary of facts and the information before me that you have been on a crime spree for a number of months, involving serious charges including burglary, arson, and numerous thefts.?

She said she was not satisfied that the public would not be put at risk if Smith were released on bail pending sentencing.

Police prosecutor Stewart Sluis described a fuel drive off by Smith in Ashburton last June, and then the taking of a $10,000 vehicle which was doused in petrol and set alight.

The cousins then spent two hours removing the screws from a door at a bakery where they stole chocolate bars and icing sugar.

They broke into quake damaged and abandoned properties in Christchurch in February.

In April they searched one car in Ashburton and then stole another one and headed north. There was a petrol drive-off at Kaikoura, and James Smith was driving during a police chase near Blenheim.

Police used road spikes which blew out one tyre, but Smith continued driving and only stopped when he could no longer maintain speed.

Defence counsel Carol Morgan said Smith was under 20 and had a stable address for bail, and no serious history of offending. He had applied to meet his victims at a restorative justice conference and had accepted responsibility. She said he was the secondary offender. ?

Smith had admitted taking and interfering with vehicles, burglaries, thefts, failing to stop for the police, dangerous driving, and arson.