Pair jailed but fire leaves Rolleston rugby club gutted

Families were left in tears and Rolleston, south of Christchurch, was left without the means to rebuild its rugby clubhouse when two young men were jailed for a series of burglaries in the area.

No one has been convicted of the arson of the Rolleston Rugby Club on February 17 last year - those charges had to be dropped after legal argument - but two of the burglars will have to pay for their share of the damage.

But the jail terms and the reparation orders imposed by Judge Stephen Erber in the Christchurch District Court yesterday will not provide enough money to give Rolleston back its clubrooms.

They were insured for $50,000 and replacing them will cost $90,000.

Judge Erber described it as "an attack on the whole community".

"No doubt this behaviour has caused a great deal of distress for the families as well," he said. "This will take a long time before it is forgiven and will probably never be forgotten."

The men's families were in court for the sentencing, and burst into tears as Judge Erber jailed the men, allowing both leave to apply for home detention but refusing to defer the start date of the sentences so that they could apply to serve the whole time outside prison.

Scott David Chapman, 21, a solo parent, had admitted the burglaries of the Rolleston Primary School, the rugby club, the Rolleston Community Centre, two commercial premises and a restaurant.

Jordan Patrick Donaldson, 19, unemployed, admitted burglaries of the rugby club, two commercial premises and the restaurant.

Both are from Rolleston.

Chapman's lawyer, Mark Callaghan, said his client denied going into the building and was only a look-out.

Donaldson's lawyer, Gerard Lynch, said his client understood the impact of the burglaries and the grief they had caused. He described Donaldson's problem as "too much alcohol and too much time".

The Crown was unable to say who had set fire to the rugby club, but Judge Erber said all the burglars were responsible. "Lighting the fire was an act done during the burglary during which all of you were complicit."

A third offender had been involved, but he had been dealt with in the Youth Court where he received a sentence of 120 hours of community work. He had not been ordered to pay a share of the reparation.

Judge Erber noted that Chapman had received a community work sentence for another burglary. He owed $10,000 in unpaid fines.

The judge said Rolleston was a new and growing community.

"Rugby clubs and community centres tend to produce a sense of community. These were attacks on the whole community."

He jailed Chapman for 18 months and Donaldson for 15 months. Chapman was also ordered to pay total reparation of $22,694 and Donaldson $21,508.

- NZPA