A Luggate man has been sentenced to community work after stealing nearly $2500 worth of groceries from a Wanaka supermarket.
Michael William George Armstrong (51) admitted shoplifting from the New World Three Parks supermarket on three occasions.
On February 14, 18 and 20, he stole items valued at $1054.06, $251.65 and $1177.76 respectively.
At Armstrong’s sentencing in the Queenstown District Court last week, Judge Russell Walker said shoplifting was becoming "something of an epidemic".
Because supermarkets had to factor in the cost of shoplifting in their prices, the offending impacted all families.
Counsel Ben Alexander said the defendant stole "out of desperation".
He had relocated from Nelson out of concern for his safety after becoming the victim of violent offending, and arrived in the area without a job, accommodation or welfare benefit.
The shoplifting was an "attempt to self-support", Mr Alexander said.
Judge Walker told Armstrong he had been unwise to relocate before making arrangements to support himself financially.
The offending was aggravated by the high value of the groceries taken.
He stepped back from a sentence of community detention "by a fine margin", because the defendant now had a job, which was important for his rehabilitation.
He noted the defendant had 13 previous convictions, but only two in the past 23 years.
He convicted Armstrong, sentenced him to 200 hours’ community work and ordered him to pay reparation of $1305.71.
