A mentally ill man who broke into Government House grounds also committed a raft of offences at the top of the South Island, before going on a shoplifting spree in Dunedin, taking jewellery and perfume, a court has heard.
Joel Wallace (31) was sentenced by Judge John Macdonald in the Dunedin District Court on 17 charges from Blenheim, Nelson, Wellington and Dunedin.
‘‘You are in need of medication to keep your life on an even keel,’’ Judge Macdonald said.
Wallace suffered from a range of conditions including depression, schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder.
His lawyer, Sarah Saunderson-Warner, said at the time the offending began he was homeless, and failing to keep up with his medication.
In June, he stole $200 from a Wellington dance studio, telling police he went into the studio looking for food and drink.
The following month he was found without reasonable excuse in the grounds of Government House, the residence of the Governor-General.
Later in July he was picked up by police in Blenheim for possessing a hammer in a public place, and for stealing a mountain bike, before being admitted to a mental health facility in Nelson.
He was convicted of assaulting one patient and threatening another with a pair of shears.
While in Dunedin he attained a ‘‘degree of stability’’ he had not had before, and had obtained accommodation via Work and Income NZ, Ms Saunderson-Warner said.
However, his life went off the rails again when he began sniffing glue, and in late September he went on a theft spree around Dunedin’s CBD, taking perfume, jewellery and health products worth more than $300.
He had since written a letter of apology to the retailers, which Judge Macdonald acknowledged was ‘‘very respectful’’.
Ms Saunderson-Warner said Wallace was an articulate man, and had an ambition to enrol at university.
He was convicted and discharged on a graffiti-related charge, and sentenced on the other charges to nine months’ supervision and 200 hours’ community work.
He was ordered to complete drug and alcohol abuse counselling and to pay reparation to the Wellington dance studio of $123, and the Dunedin businesses.
