Primo Robert Charles Thompson, 21, appeared in the Dunedin District Court this week, more than two years after receiving a community-based sentence for a spate of 13 burglaries.
Instead of going to prison, the man was sentenced to 12 months’ intensive supervision and three months’ community detention in October 2021.
"He gave the finger to that, didn’t he?" Judge Kevin Phillips said this week.
Less than a year later, early on August 28, the defendant and four associates noticed a damaged front door in Castle St.
Three entered the flat with torches and began rifling through drawers and cupboards.
The victim arrived and suspected she was being burgled as she saw the torches moving about her home through a window.
She entered her front gate, where the lookout attempted to waylay her by offering her some alcohol.
As the group ran from the property, one of them shoulder-barged the victim, causing her to hit a wall.
The victim struck her head but was not injured, the court heard.
Counsel Brendan Stephenson said his client had difficulty remembering the offending due to his level of intoxication.
"I don’t accept that he was drunk enough to not know what was going on," Judge Phillips said.
"It’s all rubbish."
The man had gained full-time employment and limited his alcohol use since the burglary — which saved him from a term of imprisonment.
"You are spoken of has having a lot of potential ... I commend the way you have abided by your bail," the judge said.
"This will be his final opportunity to carry on the path he has created since his offending."
Thompson was convicted of burglary and sentenced to an almost identical if not more lenient sentence of five months’ community detention and nine months’ supervision.
The judge told the man to "do as your told" if he wanted to remain out of prison.
