Cheesecake and chips cap $24,000 crime spree

A Nelson man who went on a $24,000 crime spree that included stealing diesel from former employers ended the fling with cheesecake and chips.

Joshua Cain McKinnon, 21, unemployed, appeared in the Nelson District Court on Wednesday and admitted one charge of falsely using a fuel card and five of burglary.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Wayne Johnston said that on August 12, McKinnon - who was on bail for other dishonesty offending - and an associate entered a Riwaka paddock and were driving towards a diesel tank when they became stuck in mud, but got away without being caught.

Between August 6 and 12, McKinnon and an associate entered the yard of a Brightwater hop-grower, where McKinnon used to be employed, and broke into a diesel tank, filling their vehicle and leaving the remainder of the tank fuel to drain into the ground, causing "significant environmental damage", Mr Johnston said.

They also broke into the company office and stole beer.

On the night of August 12, McKinnon and an associate entered another Brightwater former employer's yard and stole a fuel card from a truck's glovebox, which he later used to buy $79.86 of diesel from a Richmond service station.

On the night of August 14, he returned to the Brightwater yard and stole another fuel card.

Mr Johnston said that between August 16 and 18, McKinnon went to a forestry area and found a parked truck. He smashed up its cab and interior, causing $22,947 damage.

Then on September 19 he broke into a Vanguard St takeaway shop and stole sausages, frozen chips and cheesecakes.

Mr Johnston said McKinnon admitted the offending when spoken to by police. Total reparation of $24,243 was sought.

Defence lawyer Brett Daniel-Smith said McKinnon was seeing a psychiatrist and his position was "precarious" because he was having trouble getting medication in custody.

In remanding McKinnon in custody for sentencing on December 9, Judge Stephen Harrop said authorities had to be vigilant in ensuring McKinnon got the medication he needed. The judge called for pre-sentence and reparation reports.

- © Fairfax NZ News