Two months in prison + one day = $350

Masterton man sentenced to two months in prison begged a judge, from the dock, to keep him incarcerated for an extra day so he could pocket a $350 Winz grant.

In the Masterton District Court on Thursday, Darryl Leonard Connor, 37, pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching a protection order and one of receiving stolen property.

Judge Tom Broadmore had decided to sentence Connor to two months' imprisonment but changed his mind after a plea from Connor to impose an extra day, making him eligible for a Work and Income Steps to Freedom grant, at taxpayers' expense.

Defence lawyer Virginia Pearson said Connor wished to be eligible for the Steps to Freedom programme.

"Mr Connor instructs that if Your Honour could impose a sentence of two months and one day he is wanting to do the Steps programme," Ms Pearson said.

Inmates who have been in prison for more than 31 days are eligible, on release, for the $350 Winz grant.

Despite being sentenced to two months and one day Connor will serve only half of that.

Offenders serving a prison sentence of two years or less are automatically released after serving half of their sentence, meaning Connor needed the extra day to receive the grant.

A Department of Corrections spokesman said the Steps to Freedom grant gave released prisoners money to help them through their first week of freedom.

"Just to cover the first week of rent and food, things like that."

Ms Pearson said Connor's protection-order breaches, against his former partner, were in her view "relatively low level".

She said Connor had a place to stay on release and would comply with release conditions.

Prosecutor Sergeant Garry Wilson said he did not agree that the breaches were low level.

"The breaches are very real and very disturbing for her, the complainant. She went to the lengths of moving to Tauranga to get away from the defendant."

Connor interjected from the dock, "She's the mother of my baby. Why would I hurt her?"

Mr Wilson said the actions of Connor, which included following his former partner to work, had made her feel "intimidated".

"Looking in through the window he pulled the middle finger," Mr Wilson said.

The charge of receiving stolen property related to a smartphone that was tracked to an address where Connor was found.

Mr Wilson said Connor had previous convictions.

In summing up, Judge Broadmore said the court had no confidence Connor would not continue to offend.

"I'm convicting you and sentencing you to imprisonment for two months and one day.

"I entirely agree with what Sergeant Wilson said. I think a lot of people that come before me, like you, have no idea of the impact of looks and gestures can have on people that are in a vulnerable state.

"You might not think it's serious. In my view it is and that's why I'm sentencing you to imprisonment and I want you to think about it while you're inside," he said.