Repeat offender gets 16 months' jail

A recidivist burglar has been sentenced to 16 months in jail   after pleading guilty to stealing a tool box from a construction site in Dargaville.
The Dargaville District Court heard Jacob Whatarau, 39, of Dargaville, had 23 previous convictions and a criminal record extending back to 1988.
Judge Keith de Ridder agreed with Whatarau's counsel, Melissa Russell, that the recent offending had been a minor, opportunist theft, but  did not hide the fact it was his 24th conviction.
Whatarau had been released from a year in jail just before he breaking the law in February. On April 7 he had gone on to a building site, stolen the tool box and taken it to his home where it was later recovered by police.
Mrs Russell told the court Whatarau had difficulties with alcohol and before his recent remand he had been scheduled to attend a residential alcohol and drug facility.
 
Judge de Ridder said: "Over the years you have attended a number of programmes but have failed to get on top of the problem."
 Giving him credit for an early plea he  sentenced him to 16 months in prison with special release conditions.