'Rings' fixation led to theft

An obsession with the Lord of the Rings film project which led to the theft of more than $213,000 worth of costumes and props from a film site in the Wellington area has had its sequel in the Alexandra District Court.

Blu James McLennan, aged 46, unemployed, of Wanaka, yesterday admitted charges of theft as a servant of $213,693 worth of costumes and props from film sets, and a $50 wine barrel, the property of the movie production company Three Foot Six.

He was sentenced to 200 hours of community service for stealing the costumes and film-set props and a concurrent sentence of 50 hours' community service on the charge of theft of the wine barrel.

Lawyer Kieran Tohill said McLennan was obsessed with Lord of the Rings.

He intended using the clothing and props in a shrine, and to show he had worked on the film.

His obsession extended to tattoos of Lord of the Rings on his body.

Mr Tohill said McLennan was a diabetic who had worked 14 to 18 hours a day, six days a week, for the company and at times did not take his insulin.

Prosecutor Sergeant Tom Scouller said the offences occurred between February and June.

The defendant and his wife were working on the set, McLennan as an extra.

But when the filming of his part was delayed, he was offered a job in security.

- NZPA