Drugged burglar receives two-part sentence

A sickness beneficiary charged with burgling a Bannockburn house, who later returned most stolen items to the home in a Santa like-sack was yesterday sentenced to 240 hours' community work and made to pay $8713.25 reparation in the Alexandra District Court

Michael Geoffrey Linn (35) sickness beneficiary, of Cromwell, pleaded guilty to one charge of burgling a property at 201 Bannockburn Rd about 2am on December 16 last year.

Police prosecutor Tim Hambleton told Judge Richard Watson that Linn was affected by a cocktail of drugs at the time of the offences. Linn had drunk alcohol as well as being on valium when he stole more than $9000 worth of electrical equipment and devices, household goods and antiques from the property while the owner was absent.

Linn turned up at the house with the intent of yelling at the home owner over a dispute involving Linn's partner and the home owner's pet dog.

When no-one responded to his shouting, Linn discovered the front door was unlocked and entered the house.

The home owner's 16-year-old son was asleep in a bedroom and was the sole occupant at the time.

Linn emptied a large wooden box, filled it with CDs, DVDs, a television, antique telephone sleeping bags, and other household items, and took them from the house. Walls and doors at the house were damaged during the burglary.

About 9am the same day, Linn returned most of the stolen items, some damaged, in a large sheet tied into a sack, which was left at the end of the property driveway adjoining Bannockburn Rd.

Mr Hambleton said the next day Linn again returned to the house and dropped off two stolen electronic remote control units by the letterbox.

Police identified Linn from fingerprints at the address. He told police he had blacked out and did not realise the damaging nature of his actions.

Mr Hambleton said Linn had disposed of the rest of the items and the large wooden box in a lake nearby the property and they had not been recovered.

Reparation of $8713.25 was sought by the home owner for items stolen and damaged by Linn.
Defence counsel Russell Checketts said Linn had already paid $400 of reparation.

‘‘He's got $1120 of fines outstanding at the moment and I suggest he could pay reparation of about $60 a week,'' Mr Checketts said.

Mr Checketts asked if Linn could have his sentence deferred in order for him to have a warning of being sentenced ‘‘loom over his head''

‘‘He accepts he should not have burgled and he was high while he did it,'' Mr Checketts said.
Judge Watson said the burglary was unusual, but was concerned about the large amount of property outstanding from the crime.

‘‘I'm concerned about the cocktail of drugs you are involved in,'' Judge Watson said.
Linn's outstanding fines were remitted by the judge during sentencing.