A Dunedin man who was meant to be at home on bail after ramming two cars was instead out stealing a vehicle.
Joshua David Durst, 30, appeared in the Dunedin District Court this week after earlier pleading guilty to two charges of wilful damage, reckless driving and theft of a vehicle.
The court heard that in December last year the defendant drove down a cul-de-sac and rammed two parked cars.
About 10pm, he breached his curfew, snuck to Kaikorai Valley and broke into a Honda.
He ripped the cover off the steering column, managed to start the car and drove off.
About 3.40am police conducted an extensive bail check at Durst’s home, but he was nowhere to be found.
He drove the car home and kept it in his backyard with a cover over it.
The next day, his electronic-monitoring bracelet was transmiting again and police arrived to find the stolen vehicle.
This week, counsel John Westgate said his client could not explain the offending, other than saying he made a "stupid decision" and his addiction also played a part.
He highlighted the successful restorative justice meeting where Durst apologised to the man whose car he stole.
The victim said the vehicle was his "pride and joy" and he could not believe what had happened.
Mr Westgate said the car ramming occurred because his client felt "aggrieved", but the court heard it left one victim feeling targeted, anxious and shocked.
The lawyer accepted Durst needed to "grow up" but thought he was starting to make positive changes.
This week, Judge June Jelas said the defendant’s offer to pay reparation was an empty promise as he still had thousands of dollars of reparation owing from other offences.
She sentenced Durst to 18 months’ imprisonment with leave to apply for home detention if a bed at a residential rehabilitation facility became available.
She also disqualified Durst from driving for six months and did not order him to pay reparation.
