Jail again for prolific offender

A prolific offender has been sent back to jail after being caught teaming-up with a group of youngsters to steal a car in Flaxmere.

Luke-Tane Skipworth-Jury, 19 at the time of the incident on November 12, was still on parole from a term of two years and three months for multiple burglaries.

He was with three others, aged 12-16 when he was seen to smash a vehicle of a window, Napier District Court was told yesterday.

He tried to hotwire the vehicle, but was interrupted by someone who knew the vehicle's owner and called the police.

Officers used a dog to track him soon afterwards.

Skipworth-Jury's excuses to police continued into a hearing at which he denied trying to take the car and having instruments for the purpose of taking vehicles, Judge Geoff Rea said.

But he was found guilty and yesterday was sentenced to 11 months' jail on charges which also include breaches of release conditions.