Mother of four Maresha Wrathall has been told to find a better home detention address - one that's not a "thieves' den".
Christchurch District Court Judge Raoul Neave decided not to send her to the address proposed, when she appeared for sentence today.
"She's in a nest ofprofessional criminals," he said.
Defence counsel Tony Garrett said it was rare to have opposition to home detention from the police.
Judge Neave said the police opposition to home detention was that she would be going back to a thieves' den.
He told 28-year-old Wrathall not to hold her breath that home detention would be granted.
Wrathall, who has four children aged eight and under, was arrested when a group had been burgling a Fendalton Rd house and were disturbed by the resident returning home.
Mr Garrett told the court that Wrathall had co-operated with the police and helped recover some property that police could not prove was stolen.
He said she needed some time to find an appropriate address and asked for a delay of two to three weeks.
She was remanded to April 20 on bail, to come up with another address, after pleading guilty in November to burglary, attempted burglary, and receiving stolen goods.
