Two in jail for quake-related offences

File photo / NZ Herald

Shannon Kenneth O'Connor, a 26-year-old Christchurch painter, still insists it was only curiosity about earthquake damage that got him into trouble, but he has admitted four charges of burglary.

He was charged with entering business premises that had been badly damaged on Barbadoes Street, and a separate offence of dishonestly using a document, Christchurch Court News website reported.

Defence counsel Gilbert Hay said he had gone onto the site of the damaged shops out of curiosity while he was waiting on the street to be picked up for a doctor's appointment, and the person he was with had taken an item.

"He had no intention to commit burglaries in the normal sense," said Mr Hay.

But he said O'Connor also had hopes of being admitted to the drug and alcohol rehabilitation programme at Odyssey House.

Christchurch District Court Judge Colin Doherty remanded him in custody for sentence on November 2.

He ordered a reparation report, and ruled out home detention.

Lyall Anzac Hetariki, an unemployed 39-year-old, was picked up again at 1.20am today, inside the fenced off area around where a heritage building has been damaged on Manchester Street.

He was already on bail - and forbidden to come into the central city - after being picked up inside the cordon during the civil defence emergency on September 9.

On that day he was found in Hereford Street at 2.55am, and told police he was "getting some fresh air".

He pleaded guilty today to the two breaches of the Civil Defence Emergency Act.

Judge Doherty ordered him held in custody to tomorrow because the offending had triggered an application to have him recalled to serve the rest of a previous prison term and the interim recall application is now before the Parole Board.

Police prosecutor Anselm Williams said the police wanted to keep Hetariki out of the city in the present situation.

"His offending has a nuisance quality about it," he said.

- NZPA