Teen offender told to grow up

NUISANCE: The theft of a single toilet roll was among a litany of disorders at Mario Bartolic's sentencing.

A Featherston teenager who stole a $7.59 commercial toilet roll from public toilets and shouted at the manager of a liquor outlet he is trespassed from, has been told by the sentencing judge it's time to grow up.

Mario Colin Bartolic, 18, appeared before Judge Barbara Morris in Masterton District Court recently pleading guilty to charges of theft and disorderly behaviour and was sentenced to 40 hours' community work and to pay for the toilet roll and the holder he broke.

Bartolic, his sister and friend went into the Featherston public toilets on Fox St about 7pm on September 17 where his sister allegedly tried to break into a stainless steel toilet roll holder to remove the toilet paper.

Bartolic and his friend went to help, with Bartolic kicking and breaking the dispenser worth $104.75 and stealing the toilet roll worth $7.59, said police prosecutor Sergeant Garry Wilson.

"In explanation, he stated that he didn't break anything and didn't steal anything but admitted he was there when the damage was done."

Then on November 3, he stood outside the Featherston Supervalue store, from where he had been trespassed a month earlier and started shouting for the manager.

When she explained to him why he was banned, he became threatening, telling her "not to be surprised if the store was damaged overnight", Mr Wilson said.

Judge Morris told Bartolic Featherston was a small place and word would soon get around he was trouble if he didn't change his behaviour.

"You are a young man at the start of your life ... everyone will be trespassing you."

This year, Bartolic has appeared on disorderly charges and one of breaking into a hemp farm and stealing hemp which he and a co-offender smoked.

A list of criminal convictions would stop him from obtaining employment and travelling, Judge Morris told Bartolic.

"Now is the time to take stock," she said.

Bartolic was sentenced to 40 hours' community work on the disorderly behaviour charge and given a 12 months' suspended sentence on the theft charge. He must pay $56 reparation to South Wairarapa District Council.