A Dunedin teen involved in the botched burglary of a motorcycle store has little memory of the incident due to what his counsel says was a "work hard, drink harder" culture.
Early on September 14, Adrian Tariaokairangi Judd, 18, and two other teenagers were highly intoxicated, wearing dark clothing and face coverings, the Dunedin District Court heard this week.
After attempting to kick down the door of the Moto Cafe motorcycle store in Milton, one of the youths ran into the large front window, shattering it.
The youngest defendant, who was 16 at the time, left behind one of his shoes when he attempted to steal a heavy road bike before it crashed to the floor.
Judd also unsuccessfully attempted to remove a Kawasaki dirt bike.
"You were foiled because it was chained down pretty well," Judge David Robinson said.
All three teenagers, who were locally employed as shearers, ran back to their shearing quarters about 500m from the scene.
Judd told police he had little memory of the events but they had just wanted to "have some fun riding motorbikes around town".
Counsel Brendan Stephenson said Judd had become embroiled in a "work hard, drink harder culture" but his client had his abuse of alcohol under control.
Since the offending Judd had relocated, found new employment and apologised to the business owner, who told the Otago Daily Times: "He obviously couldn’t handle the bike".
"I think they were drunk and thought they would take a motorbike and go for a ride, but it was a bit harder to pull off than they thought."
Judge Robinson commended Judd for distancing himself from the binge-drinking culture and said he hoped the evening was merely a "blip" in the youth’s life.
"You are young, you are impulsive, you probably weren’t thinking of what the consequences might be ... There was probably a bit of competitive bravado going on," he said.
"But to be really blunt, this cannot happen again."
Judd was ordered to pay $500 reparation, complete 75 hours’ community work and undergo 12 months’ supervision.
