A Hamilton hotel worker who ransacked the rooms of the touring South African Lions Super 14 rugby team has been sentenced to community detention.
Saad Moid, originally from Pakistan, was working as a part-time porter at Hamilton's Novotel Hotel when he burgled the rooms of the Lions players in April.
He used an electronic key card to gain entry to the rooms and stole $4500 worth of personal items and cash, Hamilton District Court was told.
Judge Heather Simpson sentenced him to three months' community detention and 175 hours' community work after he pleaded guilty to 14 charges of burglary, the Waikato Times reported.
He also admitted possessing cannabis after a police search of his home.
In court, Moid's head remained bowed as his mother said he would be sent back to Pakistan if he offended again.
Despite a good upbringing, the woman said her son had been influenced by New Zealand's open society.
His offending had humiliated his family and forced them to move house, she said.
"If I knew what he is doing I'd like to kill him and spend the rest of my life in prison," she said.
Defence counsel Jim Galt said Moid accepted his behaviour had brought shame to his family and the region.
"This man now accepts that in the Waikato we regard sports teams as sacrosanct," Mr Galt said.
Moid had been raised in a restrictive community and was led astray by the openness of university life, he said.
