The accomplice of a notorious self-described "kleptomaniac" has narrowly avoided jail after breaking into her neighbour’s house and stealing Christmas presents from under the tree.
Samantha Jane Doublett, 27, appeared in the Dunedin District Court this week for what a judge called "mean-spirited" offending.
In December last year, while her neighbour was recovering from surgery away from home, Doublett committed a "calculated, deliberate" and festive-themed burglary.
Doublett helped herself to the various items, including clothing, jewellery, perfume and ornaments — stashing the wrapping paper in a wardrobe.
"I wonder how they felt when they got home and how enjoyable their Christmas was?," Judge Michael Turner said.
A unique necklace with the fingerprint of the victim’s mother was also taken.
When questioned about the burglary, the woman said she had been "set up" by a male associate.
At 1.30pm on November 9, the woman and recidivist shoplifter Letiecia Terry Wilson, 25, entered Supervalue supermarket in Milton.
As the pair moved around the store, Wilson accumulated $970 of goods while Doublett distracted supermarket workers.
Wilson shot to prominence in the city when a video of her giving a retail worker the middle-finger after making off with stolen goods circulated on social media.
Earlier this year she was convicted of 20 charges, spanning from Kaiapoi to Invercargill. She was sentenced to 17 months’ imprisonment.
While Doublett admitted she was with Wilson at Supervalue, she denied taking part in the thefts as she did not receive any of the stolen goods.
Doublett was also convicted of driving charges after using her phone on the highway while under the influence of methamphetamine.
She was sentenced to four months’ community detention, ordered to pay $1985 reparation, disqualified from driving for nine months and ordered to pay $668 blood-analysis fees.
