Two burglars who rammed a business in Kaiapoi, North Canterbury, with their vehicle and stole two-way radios, which they then used to plan further criminal operations have escaped jail.
Christchurch District Court was told today that Paul Charles Anderson, 31, and Shane Anthony Harvey, 22, both unemployed, had turned their lives around since being on electronic bail, the Christchurch Court New website reported.
Judge Gary MacAskill sentenced the pair to six months home detention and ordered each to pay reparation of $4990.
Both men had an extensive list of previous offences but their defence counsel, Rupert Glover, told the court that since they had been on electronic bail they had managed to turn their lives around.
They had the support of their mothers and had a genuine interest and high motivation to change their lives for their daughters.
Judge MacAskill said that Anderson was in good mental and physical health and now spent time with his family and daughter.
He said that Harvey and Anderson had been good friends for a long time and that Harvey was learning to live a normal life and his recent change of attitude was positive.
The men decided to break into a business in Kaiapoi and rammed their four-wheel-drive into the building causing significant damage.
They stole the radios and used the units for about a week, while the owners of the radios could hear them planning more offences.
Anderson also received six months disqualification for driving while his licence was suspended and Harvey was given a concurrent home detention sentence for stealing a caravan and a car.
