Couple admit entering quake-damaged premises

Sherie Therese Stott's two children believe she has been in Nelson visiting family for the past week, but she has been in custody at Christchurch Prison for going into an earthquake-damaged property.

She was in tears as she explained what happened to Christchurch District Court Judge Jane Farish at a court sitting at the Christchurch Prison today.

She and her partner, 25-year-old David Gregoriadis, were both found in a red stickered building in Ferry Road on March 13, and were arrested for being in an enclosed yard.

They pleaded guilty and were sentenced immediately, after a week in custody.

Stott, unemployed, who turned 30 the day after the earthquake, was sentenced to 200 hours of community work, so she will be released and return to her children straight away.

Gregoriadis, a painter, has convictions for wilful damage and alcohol-related offences. He acknowledged an alcohol problem, defence counsel David Stringer told the court. Judge Farish jailed him for 21 days, which means he will be released in three or four days.

The children are aged eight and 10 and one was injured and hospitalised in the February quake. The couple had been caring for the child since then and Mr Stringer said things got out of hand when they had a night off and went out drinking.

Stott said they took the keys off "some random guy" to stop him drink-driving on his motorcycle and when he started causing trouble she went into the building to hide.

She had bare feet and had not climbed any fence, she said, but Judge Farish said the building stocked valuable hot water cylinders.

The judge said Stott had put herself and the rescue service staff at risk by going into the dangerous building.

Stott tearfully told the judge she had learned a lot in the past seven days. "I have learned to keep myself safe and be there for my children and not be in a situation where I will be apart from them like that."

Asked by the judge, she said the children had been told she was visiting family in Nelson while she was on remand.

The judge told Gregoriadis: "If you want to look after your children, keep away from alcohol and think about their needs rather than your own."

- NZPA