Simon Paul Johnston, 48, appeared before the Dunedin District Court yesterday after narrowly avoiding a prison sentence five months ago for what Judge Emma Smith called an "extraordinary array" of offences.
He was sentenced to 12 months’ home detention (the maximum such term) in July, to be served at a residential rehabilitation facility.
But the court heard he cut off his electronic bracelet and went on the run after only a few days, triggered, he said, by facing his historical demons.
Yesterday, after several months in jail, he was allowed to continue serving home detention as the judge opted not to cancel the sentence.
Johnston’s crimes began in dramatic fashion in December 2023 when he drove some associates to a Kenmure address.
While inside, the men tried to break into a safe using an angle grinder, causing it to explode and throw them backwards.
One of them suffered burns, the court heard, and Johnston took him to hospital.
A few months later, he and another man were caught breaking into vehicles at a car yard using a screwdriver and other tools.
Johnston was brought before the court but released on bail.
Despite the charges hanging over him, he went on to commit more serious offences.
On August 30, Johnston entered an enclosed building site at the Civic Centre, grabbing a laptop, building items, a wallet, USB sticks and miscellaneous cards.
The stolen haul was so large, he could not carry it all, court documents said.
CCTV footage showed the defendant struggling as he walked towards Moray Pl, dumping a shopping bag and a grinder on the footpath before making his getaway.
On October 1, Johnston targeted the University of Otago’s physical education building in Union St, where he stole a mountain bike and an array of other property.
The break-in was so bountiful in fact that he returned twice more throughout the evening to remove further items with a value of nearly $20,000.
Judge Smith said they included inherited items of immense personal significance to the victims.
Johnston’s carelessness, though, left plenty of clues for police.
"You left a trail of distress and tragedy, heartache, fear and loss for so many victims," Judge Smith said.
At the university building he forgot his backpack containing personal belongings and a key to his home, and police found the stolen bike leaning against the wall of the boarding house where he was staying.
When officers tried to arrest him, he jumped out of a window, dropped one of the victim’s wallets and was eventually found wearing a stolen jacket.
While in the police cells, Johnston excreted into a cardboard cup and smeared his faeces all over the walls and into the intercom system.
The court heard he had been deported from Australia after spending most of his life there.
At his earlier sentencing, Johnston was ordered to repay more than $30,000 to his victims.
Judge Smith said the fact the rehabilitation programme remained supportive of the defendant despite him absconding was "generous".
"You’ll appreciate that was a real opportunity for you, and it’s extremely disappointing you didn’t take it up," she said.
"That’s the nature of the addiction you have, or had."
rob.kidd@odt.co.nz , Court reporter
