DNA link led to arrest

Eruera Tawhiti Henare, 27, was sentenced to nine months' jail by Judge John Bergseng in the Masterton District Court last week.

Cutting himself during a burglary, Eruera Tawhiti Henare was linked to the crime when he was identified through a match on the National DNA Database.

The Masterton man, 27, was sentenced to nine months' jail by Judge John Bergseng in the Masterton District Court last week on a charge of burglary, two of receiving stolen property and one of possession of cannabis.

Police prosecutor Jodie Lawrence said that at 2.30am on November 16 last year Henare, who had disguised his face and wore dark clothing, smashed the front-door window of Western Auto Mart to gain entry to the locked premises and steal $1824 worth of tobacco products.

"He was linked to the offence because he left blood at the scene."

During a search of his home, Ms Lawrence said police discovered a stolen iPod touch which Henare said he had bought for $80 as a Christmas present for his daughter. They also found two chainsaws worth $4600, previously stolen in the burglary of Chanel College. During the search, police found 54 grams of cannabis in a kitchen cupboard.

A victim-impact report read to the court stated that the owners of the family-owned garage had now taken steps to lock it up like "Fort Knox" as the business had been burgled three times, Judge Bergseng said.

"They have suffered."

The judge said the owner of the stolen iPod was upset at finding all its data wiped.

"He makes the point 'if there were not for people like you, not as many people would do burglaries'."

The judge said Henare's partner was pregnant with their fourth child and his offending added stress on her.

"It appears your children have not known you have been remanded in custody. She is having to deal with you gone daily and their questions; fabricating the truth for the sake of their innocence."

As well as a nine-month jail term on the burglary charge, Henare was sentenced to two months on the receiving and one month on the possession of cannabis charge, to be served concurrently. He was also ordered to pay $1000 reparation.