Man says he stole because of gang threats

A man been jailed for twice raiding a fruit business' honesty box at Warkworth to pay gang associates who were threatening him.

Simon David Blumenthal, 32, will be released from prison almost immediately because he has served the equivalent of an eight-month jail term while on remand since early December. Offenders on short-term prison sentences are usually released after serving half the term.

Judge David Saunders sentenced him at a Christchurch District Court sitting inside the Christchurch Men's Prison today, imposing six months for the two thefts and receiving a stolen car, and two more months for failing to do a sentence of community work.

Defence counsel Judith Walshe said Blumenthal had committed the thefts after getting a car which he later learnt was stolen.

He was then threatened by gang associates in Warkworth and committed the thefts to get money to pay them.

Blumenthal is not returning to the North Island. He will be released to an address in Christchurch to take up work as a builder.

"He has some prospects for immediately normalising his life outside," said Mrs Walshe.

Judge Saunders ordered Blumenthal to pay reparations totalling $2013.

- NZPA