A man considered a friend by Ian Soanes has admitted receiving property stolen from Mr Soanes' Cardrona Adventure Park, including a specially modified stunt motorcycle.
Stuart Edward McArthur (24), unemployed, of Alexandra, denied any involvement in the burglary but pleaded guilty in the Alexandra District Court yesterday to receiving a motorcycle, car trailer, Crossman air gun and assorted other items and tools valued at more than $1000 from "person or persons unknown", knowing the items were stolen.
Prosecutor Sergeant Ian Collin was given leave by Judge John Macdonald to withdraw a charge of burglary of the Cardrona Adventure Park on May 27 or 28 laid against McArthur.
McArthur admitted causing bodily injury to a man by carelessly using a Crossman air rifle, in Alexandra on May 29, and pleaded guilty to a charge laid under the Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 2004, of running a business as a secondhand dealer without a licence, between April 3 and June 20 in Alexandra.
Sgt Collin said Mr Soanes discovered his property had been burgled on May 28. A chain was cut to gain entry and he suspected a hidden key was used. McArthur knew about the key.
McArthur and a friend leased a workshop in Boundary Rd, Alexandra, to strip vehicles for scrap metal. The court was told McArthur and the friend were target shooting in the building on May 29, and the friend was shot with a slug which ricocheted.
The pellet went 15cm into the man's buttock, lodging near his hip joint. The man sought medical advice about the injury and was advised to "leave the pellet where it was, given the depth", Sgt Collin said. He was reluctant to make a complaint to police about the incident.
Following a call by Mr Soanes to police, the workshop was searched and the majority of property stolen from him was recovered there, including the trailer, the partially stripped stunt motorcycle, batteries and a gun. Some of the items had been damaged or dismantled.
Sgt Collin said McArthur was "unable to identify" the person who supplied him the stolen equipment. The defendant and the complainant had been friends.
McArthur had sold scrap metal on 19 occasions to various people but had no licence to operate such a business.
Counsel Kieran Tohill said the defendant received head injuries in a motorcycle accident and suffered problems with his memory, and had "cognitive issues" and impulsive behaviour as a result. He had lost his job and his attempt to "make himself productive" by setting up a business had "backfired on him".
McArthur was unaware he needed a dealer's licence.
Judge Macdonald convicted and discharged the defendant for operating a business as a dealer without a licence, and sentenced him to 40 hours' community work for carelessly using a gun.
The receiving offence was a "breach of trust" as Mr Soanes considered the defendant a friend, Judge Macdonald said.
McArthur was sentenced to 125 hours' community work on that charge and ordered to pay $3000 emotional harm reparation to Mr Soanes.
