A ''Recidivist burglar'' who stole a trailer, copper and cable from Network Waitaki's Oamaru yards was sentenced in the Oamaru District Court yesterday to two years' imprisonment.
Robert James Campbell (47), unemployed, of Oamaru, appeared before Judge Joanna Maze facing charges of burglary on July 14, theft on July 15 and aggravated assault on July 15.
The court heard that Campbell entered the Network Waitaki yards on July 14, loaded a trailer with copper and cable and hooked it to a car. The trailer was valued at $6500 and the stolen copper $4000.
The next evening he entered a bedroom of an associate and took her DVD player and an amplifier, saying the victim owed him money.
He said he would return the items when she paid him. When she confronted him, he punched her. She fell and he stomped on her shoulder.
Defence counsel Andrew Belcher said his client was a recidivist burglar.
He had made a ''heartfelt apology'' to the assault victim.
Campbell has 11 previous burglary convictions. A pre-sentence report indicated there was a high likelihood of Campbell reoffending and a need for rehabilitation.
On the burglary charge, he was sentenced to 18 months' jail. For assault, he was sentenced to a further six months' jail (cumulative) and ordered to pay $50 reparation. On the theft charge, sentenced to three months' jail (concurrent).
