Sentence for burglary

Press, 10 December 1981, Page 4

Sentence for burglary

A driver earlier convicted of burgling an Ashburton garage from where a $4500 “hot rod,” parts, and tools, to a total value of $6OOO, were stolen, was sentenced to periodic detention for six months when he appeared before Judge Paterson in the District Court. Earl Raymond Make, aged 22, had admitted the offence which took place between October 31 and November 2. In addition to periodic detention Mako was put on probation for 18 months, and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for six months. Because of a dispute over the value of the “hot rod” the Judge made no order for compensation. Counsel, (Mrs D. Orchard) said that on the night her client was at home with his wife when two friends called suggesting he join them for a drive. There was nothing more sinister than that and it was not until they were approaching Ashburton that her client’s companions spoke about being after a “hot rod.” Mako then helped his friend but his involvement was more of a spur of the moment action, said Mrs Orchard. The Judge said the courts were often told that a defendant had been led into offending; yet it remained a fact that Mako had taken an active part.