TV burglary 'a cry for help'

Bobby-Joe Kahle, 32, pleaded guilty in Masterton District Court to stealing a TV during the daylight burglary of a Masterton home, six theft charges, and a count of breaching community service.

A lawyer has argued it was a "cry for help" when her client cycled away from a daylight burglary balancing a 42-inch TV under his arm.

Bobby-Joe Kahle, 32, had pleaded guilty in Masterton District Court to the charge of stealing the TV, after breaking into a Masterton home on June 25 near the middle of the day.

Kahle also pleaded guilty to six theft charges - three of them dating back to January - and to breaching community work.

Kahle's lawyer Susie Barnes said the later shoplifting charges, which included a milk drink and chocolates, were more minor than the earlier charges, and were because he was "hungry and didn't have money".

The TV burglary was something Kahle "was never going to get away with", Barnes said.

"It was a 42-inch television and he was riding away on his bike with it under his arm, in broad daylight in full view of members of the public," Ms Barnes said.

"It could very well have been a cry for help."

Judge Barbara Morris said the offence was "unsophisticated [and] easily detectable".

The judge said a probation report described Kahle as "unmotivated to address [his] drug use", but she accepted he had changed his view having had "the benefits in the time of custody without the influence of cannabis".

Judge Morris sentenced Kahle to eight and a half months in prison, taking into account his time in custody since his June 25 arrest.