Court order disregard draws sanction

Joshua Benson, 19, has been sentenced in Masterton District Court to community detention for a burglary and breaching supervision and community work.

A Featherston man with a "complete disregard" for court orders and a lack of remorse has been sentenced to community detention for a burglary and breaching supervision and community work.

Joshua Benson, 19, appeared before Judge John Bergseng in Masterton District Court on Monday for sentencing.

Defence lawyer Ian Hard said Benson was a young man who wanted to get work in the community and improve himself. "I'd ask that he be treated as any other 19-year-old man who makes a mistake," Mr Hard said.

The court heard how, on November 25, Benson and an associate entered a Featherston home, with the intention of stealing items, but were disrupted. Police were called and the pair were tracked by police dogs and arrested.

In explanation, Benson said he had no money and could not find work.

Benson was previously sentenced to supervision and community work in August for other charges and again sentenced to community work in November, for breaching community work.

Judge Bergseng said Benson had shown a "complete disregard for orders of the court" and for any community-based sentence.

"In the past you have shown absolutely no desire to undertake any of the sentence imposed by the court. You haven't expressed any remorse, you didn't want to make a written apology to the people whose house you broke into."

He sentenced Benson to three months' community detention, with a curfew from 7pm to 7am, six months' supervision and 230 hours' community work.