Jail for $68 parking meter thief

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A man has been sent to jail for a parking meter ram-raid that would have netted him $68.50.

Eifion Jeffrey Davies, 23, will only pay about half what the council wanted for the damage and losses after he backed a four-wheel-drive vehicle over the meter in Kilmore Street and tried to take the cash.

The unemployed Hornby man had unlawfully taken the vehicle and will have to pay $2000 for its damage. he was sentenced to a year in jail.

Christchurch District Court Judge Colin Doherty noted at Davies' sentencing that he showed no remorse and was ambivalent about addressing his offending.

Defence counsel Tim Fournier said Davies was willing to pay reparations. He was assessed as a high risk of reoffending and it was time for him to take stock of his life and make sensible, positive changes.

Judge Doherty said Davies had been released from prison in July after serving a term for serious violence, and now had three convictions for theft this year as well. He had pleaded guilty to breaching his prison release conditions.

When police saw Davies driving the unlawfully taken vehicle he kept driving the wrong way along Christchurch's one-way system, and running a red light. He ran off when he stopped the vehicle, but was caught wearing a disguise nearby.

Judge Doherty imposed a series of prison terms totalling one year on charges of taking the vehicle, being disguised with intent to commit a crime, wrecking the parking meter, driving while disqualified, attempted theft, reckless use of a motor vehicle, and breach of the release conditions. He was convicted and discharged for failing to stop for the police.

- NZPA