After being behind bars for nearly three years, Daniel James Ballentyne let his romantic desires trump his better judgement.
Because of the risk the 32-year-old posed, the Parole Board had imposed a 10pm-6am curfew, monitored by an ankle bracelet.
On July 23, less than a month after release, Ballentyne’s tracker showed he was away from his designated address.
Police found him pounding the pavement just after midnight.
His explanation was unconventional.
Defence counsel Pete Tuala said after so long in prison, his client had organised to meet a woman he had met online.
His accommodation did not allow visitors after 10pm, so he had decided to walk to meet the object of his affections.
"I can understand after more than two years in prison how you’d want to have some female companionship but it simply required better organisation," Judge Peter Rollo said.
"They have imposed these conditions to keep you offence-free."
Not only did Ballentyne breach his curfew, he also consumed alcohol, which contravened another condition of his release.
"He had a few to drink to calm his nerves," Mr Tuala explained.
Ballentyne was originally jailed in 2016 for a range of offences, including an attack on a Corrections officer in which he bit the man on the chest.
And while serving his sentence for that, he brawled with another prison staffer, which added to his incarceration.
Judge Rollo was concerned at the growing list of convictions.
"Have you thought of doing something else instead of occupying prison cells or courtrooms?" he asked.
"Songwriting. I want to get into the music industry and pursue some business ventures," Ballentyne said.
The judge had some advice.
"The key to music is staying in tune. Stay in tune with the conditions of your release."
Ballentyne was sentenced to 50 hours community work.
