'Last chance' for man with 110 convictions

A Christchurch man with 110 convictions has been given home detention and one last chance to go straight. Photo / Stephen Parker

A 37-year-old man who has 110 previous dishonesty offences and indulged in a spree of offending while on bail, has been given one last chance.

Shaun Craig Wastney, formerly of Westport but now living in Christchurch, was sentenced in the Christchurch District Court today.

He had pleaded guilty to charges of possession of cannabis and ACC fraud totalling $10,545.

While on bail to get a home detention report done for these offences he took his girlfriend's car and was involved in an accident.

He drove off without checking if anyone was hurt.

He then faced charges of driving while forbidden, careless driving, and failing to stop after a non-injury accident.

Wastney had admitted doing labouring work on the West Coast while he was meant to be off work on ACC as a result of a 2004 car accident.

West Coast defence counsel Doug Taffs said Wastney presented a gloomy history to court.

He said he was a man who was running from himself, with an ill-concealed deep rage against the world. He had a deep-seated, long-standing drug addiction.

He said Wastney had asked for psychological and psychiatric assistance, which had not been provided before the latest spree of offending.

Since he had been to a psychologist there had been progress and for the first time there was hope of improvement, Mr Taffs said.

Crown prosecutor Marcus Zintl said some of Wastney's offences had been committed while he was on bail or on community detention.

He said the probation report found Wastney was at a high risk of reoffending.

Judge Raoul Neave said there was a real concern that Wastney would not see a psychologist if he was sent to prison, and that seeing the psychologist may be the catalyst to break the cycle.

He said that locking Wastney up may create more problems in the long run.

"If there is ever to be a break in the cycle, this is the chance," he said.

Wastney had severe health problems which had taken a toll on him physically. Judge Neave said.

He said he was being as generous as he could, and sentenced Wastney to 12 months home detention, 250 hours community work. He was ordered to pay reparation of $10,545 to ACC, and a further $5942 for other breach and dishonesty charges.

He warned Wastney that if he left the home detention address or failed to comply with anything he was asked to do, he would be sent to prison.

- NZPA