A 40-year-old Dunedin man with 186 convictions, described as ''the textbook'' offender, has been given a chance to turn his life around.
Dain Wayne Manukau appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday where he was expecting another prison term to add to a growing list.
But Judge Michael Crosbie took a different tack.
A psychological report he ordered was illuminating, he said, in terms of providing context for the defendant's history of transgressions.
''With all due respect, [it] could be a textbook chapter about how criminal offending comes about,'' the judge said.
Manukau had an unstable upbringing, followed by numerous stints in care, all of which had changed his psyche.
''It led to him becoming aggressive and being bullied, to becoming the bully,'' Judge Crosbie said.
Manukau then became immersed in gang culture but had left that behind six years ago, the court heard.
Drug problems remained, though, and the court heard that on December 6 last year the defendant was so high on ''benzos'' he could not recall his actions.
He and two others went to the Meridian Mall, where they walked around separately, before Manukau went to a florist on the first floor.
He removed the till drawer which had a $60 float, put it under his jacket and met the associates in the lift.
They went back to the car park, removed the cash and discarded the till drawer.
Manukau pleaded guilty to burglary, though his counsel Anne Stevens said it was ''more in the nature of a theft''.
Judge Crosbie noted the man's risk of reoffending had been assessed by Probation as ''very high''.
''You're really at a crossroads in your life,'' he said.
''Today for you really becomes an issue ... of do you accept you need some therapy and counselling, or do you turn your back on that and keep going in and out of prison until maybe you die there? I don't want to be morbid but there are some classic things going on in your background.''
He sentenced Manukau to 15 months' intensive supervision, rather than another prison stint.
''We need to be looking at long-term assistance for you to make sure you're not just another statistic.''
