Pair warned they face jail over gecko thefts

A man and a woman who stole three valuable geckos from Orana Park, Christchurch, face a possible prison sentence after admitting the charges today.

The pair say they wanted the reptiles as pets rather than for on-selling.

But Christchurch District Court Judge Michael Green warned them that he was granting bail only so that they could attend a restorative justice conference with Orana Park representatives.

"Bail is not an indication you will not be jailed," he told Nicholas John Ormandy and Sally Somers Stirton. They will be sentenced at a Crown sentencing session next month.

The sessions are reserved for more serious cases and give the Crown solicitor's office a chance to make submissions on what the sentence ought to be.

Ormandy, 20, an installation installer, and Stirton, 30, a dancer, had been jointly charged after the geckos -- two Northland green geckos and a rough gecko -- were found at their home in the Christchurch suburb of Richmond three weeks ago.

They had been charged with entering a building with intent to commit a crime -- effectively a burglary -- but this charge was changed to theft of two of the geckos today.

The value of one of the animals was given as $3000.

They admitted two charges of theft, and one of being in possession of absolutely protected wildlife.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Ash Tabb said the pair had gone to the gecko enclosure on April 9, when Ormandy moved the cage and Stirton placed a gecko into her handbag. They were back two days later to get another gecko for it to breed with, and took another two in the same way.

Defence counsel Craig Fletcher said the animals had been in good condition when they were found and returned. They had been taken to be pets rather than for on-selling.

Ormandy and Stirton had co-operated with the police and were not a flight risk. They accepted that imprisonment was the likely outcome.

He asked for bail so that the pair could attend a restorative justice conference at which they will discuss the crime and its effects with Orana Park staff.

The sentencing judge will receive a report on the conference.

Orana Park has increased security since the thefts.

- NZPA