Patrick O’Reily-Mesharn Ilton (39) appeared before Judge Jim Large in the Invercargill District Court yesterday for sentencing on 20 charges.
The charges were seven burglary (some jointly charged), three possession of utensils, receiving, two charges of using a bank card for financial gain, attempting to use a bank card for financial gain, two charges of failing to assist police, two charges of possession of methamphetamine and two charges of possession of cannabis.
All the charges relate to offending between September 4 last year and March 2 and occurred in Invercargill and Winton.
Reading out the summary of facts, Judge Large said Ilton and his co-offender went to the Winton Salvation Army at 1.20am on February 28, sorting through and taking donated goods at the back access to the premises. They then returned with a trailer at 3.30am so they could load up other larger items, including a dresser, cabinet and couch.
They also returned a couple of days later on March 2 and stole more donated items.
The pair also burgled a Nelson St second hand business four times.
Ilton handed up two letters yesterday, one addressed to the Salvation Army and the other for the people of Southland.
Judge Large said in his letter to the Salvation Army, Wallis said they did an amazing job.
"I agree with that," Judge Large said.
However, that was what made Ilton’s offending mean.
"You were not just taking from the Salvation Army, you were taking from those in the community that need and benefit from what the Salvation Army do."
In the other letter, Wallis explained he had been battling his methamphetamine addiction for many years and had lost his job at Tiwai as a result, the judge said.
Judge Large sentenced Ilton to 20 months' jail with leave to apply for home detention and ordered him to pay $1100 reparation. He remitted $2376 in outstanding fines.
