Whanganui man who offended two days after being released from prison sentenced to further imprisonment for stealing sweet treats

Te Kahui Tana Kereopa was sentenced to imprisonment after stealing lollies and chocolate bars. Photo / Bevan Conley

A Whanganui man has been sentenced to imprisonment for stealing lollies and chocolate bars.

Te Kahui Tana Kereopa scaled a six-foot wire fence and using a large mallet, smashed his way into workshop in a light industrial area in Whanganui.

Accompanied by two others, Kereopa, 21, then destroyed the glass front of two vending machines, filling his pockets with the sweet treats from inside.

The three then trashed the men's and women's locker rooms inside the building by opening the doors and letting the contents spill out onto the floor.

A silent alarm was activated, causing the arrival of a security guard which made the men run away to a nearby park where they were tracked down by a dog unit.

The offending occurred on August 19, 2018, just two days after Kereopa had been released from prison for earlier offending. He pleaded guilty to burglary in Whanganui District Court.

Judge Dugald Matheson said that he saw a life wasting away in front of him.

"You are becoming what's known as a recidivist burglar and that's not a good thing for you," Judge Matheson said.

"I really want you to get help, but you seem to fall between the cracks and every time you come out and do this stuff, you really shoot yourself in the foot."

Judge Matheson sentenced Kereopa to 15 months' imprisonment with six months' release conditions and ordered him to pay $1190 reparation.