An 18-year-old who stole $90 worth of newspapers claimed he did so to keep a homeless person warm.
The teen pleaded guilty to theft of property.
On June 2 at 3am the offender and his associate were in Queen St, Masterton where they stole a stack of 30 Sunday newspapers which were the property of the Copper Kettle Dairy, said prosecuting Sergeant Garry Wilson.
They walked to the Masterton grandstand and lit a fire with the newspapers, he added.
But the teenager explained his actions saying his homeless friend had been cold and sick.
