Father and son sentenced for 'soul-destroying' burglary

File photo / NZ Herald

A father and son have been jointly sentenced for cleaning out a newly built Featherston house in a soul-destroying burglary.

Paul Van Der Molen, 35, and his son, Joshua Van Der Molen, 18, were given community work and ordered to pay reparations of $3070 each by Judge Susan Thomas at the Masterton District Court yesterday.

The father was also given home detention.

With another man who has already appeared in court, the pair drove a truck to a Western Lake subdivision in November last year, stealing furniture and appliances from a property before it had been occupied by the owners.

After denying the charges, the pair were earlier this year found guilty of the burglary.

Reading from a victim-impact statement, Judge Thomas said it had been "soul-destroying" for the owners to have their house "completely cleaned out of property".

"What should have been a time of great excitement and celebration was immediately shattered."

She said Paul Van Der Molen had a long history of burglary and theft charges and it was "obviously of great concern" that he appeared alongside his son.

She sentenced him to six months' home detention as well as counselling for alcohol issues.

He was also ordered to pay $3070 to the owners and complete 60 hours' of community work, as well as another 40 hours for past fines. Judge Thomas ordered Joshua Van Der Molen to pay $3070 in reparations and complete 140 hours of community work.

The third offender, Daniel Waller, 24, of Masterton, was sentenced in July to nine months' home detention for his part in the incident.