Man 'stole to break away' from gang

Stealing was the lesser of two evils for a man who wanted to be freed from the grip of a gang, a court has heard.

Former gang member Jack Arthur Yorke, 51, had lived on the right side of the law since he made the decision to ditch gang life when he was freed from prison in 2004.

He struck a deal with the gang president and moved to Palmerston North to start anew after decades of being a major player in the underbelly of society.

But when the president died last year, his successor demanded Yorke pay for his freedom, the Palmerston North District Court heard this week.

The sickness beneficiary could not afford the ransom so he decided to break into a shed on the weekend of October 26, steal $5050 worth of property and sell it to secondhand dealers and scrap metal merchants.

Yorke paid off the gang but handed himself in to police when he heard they were looking for him, defence lawyer Tony Thackery told the court.

"That's the best way he could show remorse to the victim."

Judge Alistair Garland asked what proof Yorke had of cutting ties with the gang. Mr Thackery did not have independent confirmation, just the man's word.

Judge Garland noted Yorke had not been convicted of any crimes since 2004.

However, he had racked up 32 convictions, including violence, drugs and aggravated robbery offences, in his lifetime.

A burglary charge of this nature carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment.

Judge Garland sentenced Yorke to 15 months' imprisonment with special release conditions to assist in rehabilitation.

The victim did not have insurance for the stolen items but a reparation order was not ordered because it would be an "exercise in futility", Judge Garland said.

- © Fairfax NZ News