Aunties' mercy for hungry thief - judge

John Dene Ranapia, 17, was sentenced to community detention and supervision after earlier admitting charges of having an offensive weapon, a knife, and three counts of burglary.

Desperate for food, John Dene Ranapia broke into homes to feed himself.

The 17-year-old, formerly of Wanganui, was sentenced to five months' community detention and nine months' supervision when he appeared before Judge Peter Butler in the Masterton District Court this week. He had previously pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon, a knife, in a public place and three counts of burglary.

Defence lawyer Louise Elder said Ranapia had been passed around his family for years and ended up in Wanganui with his sister-in-law until he was asked to leave. The burglaries occurred because he needed food, she said. "This young man had hit a bit of a bad patch ... he stole to eat. He went south for work and something went wrong and he ended up in Wanganui."

Ranapia was now being supported by two aunties and was due to start at Taratahi Agricultural farm as a farming student, Ms Elder said.

"It will be a fresh start," she said.

Judge Butler said Ranapia had no previous convictions and told him to make the best of his new situation being supported by aunties.

The offending had occurred when he was in a homeless situation "to provide food for yourself", he said.

"Staying with your aunties is a new chance. Grab it with both hands," he said.

Ranapia's curfew for home detention is 7pm-7am daily.