Man stole knickers from line

A man stole 14 pairs of women's underwear over a 43-day period and occasionally ripped them and returned them to their owner, the Invercargill District Court was told yesterday.

Craig James Crofts, 46, unemployed, appeared before Judge Kevin Phillips on five charges of theft and one of burglary between August 25 and October 8.

Crofts stole 14 pairs of women's underwear, valued at a total of $140, from the clothesline of an Invercargill woman on five occasions.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Glen McMurdo said, on one occasion, Crofts did not find any underwear on the woman's line so entered her laundry in search of some.

He would occasionally rip the underwear and return it to her yard, Mr McMurdo said. Crofts was eventually caught on video, inspecting underwear with a torch, he said. When questioned by police, Crofts said he had no idea why he felt the need to steal undies.

Judge Phillips remanded Crofts on bail to February 12 for sentence.

Assault
Gareth Andrew Daken, 21, road worker, was sentenced to six months' supervision and 70 hours' community work for assault, damaging a house with intent to annoy and possessing an offensive weapon, namely an axe, on October 18.

A 53-year-old man, granted name suppression, was sentenced to six months' supervision for assaulting his 15-year-old daughter on October 25.

Jamie Bryce Anthony Brown 17, shearer, will be sentenced on February 12 for an assault with intent to injure on September 15.

Theft
Samuel Joseph Craigie, 20, labourer, was sentenced to 110 hours' community work and ordered to pay $161.35 reparation for theft and possessing a needle used to consume cannabis oil on October 18.

Troy Richard Gilbert, 17, was sentenced to 70 hours' community work and ordered to pay $217.60 reparation for stealing a hammer and two screwdrivers, valued at $150, and twice unlawfully interfering with a motor vehicle on October 22.

Firearms
Terrence Neil Jamieson, 59, was sentenced to six months' supervision for possessing a firearm while intoxicated and being unlawfully in a building on September 8.

Dwayne Percy, 37, of Nelson, was fined $200 after he admitted two charges of discharging a firearm in the Rakiura National Park on Stewart Island on April 5.

Breach
Michael Phillip David Turnbull, 37, was convicted and discharged for breaching supervision on October 22.

Driving
Steven Michael Whelan, 23, meatworker, was sentenced to four months' home detention, 150 hours' community work and disqualified from driving for 12 months for driving dangerously and with a breath alcohol level of 580mcg on August 7, and breaching community work on August 31.

Alan Ebyarimpa, will be sentenced on November 13 for driving while disqualified on September 4 at Wanaka.

Drink-driving
Aaron William McIntosh, 19, labourer, was sentenced to 40 hours' community work and disqualified from driving for six months for driving with a breath alcohol level of 458mcg on October 31.

Vernon James Hollander, 45, meatworker, 595mcg and driving while suspended on October 8. Remanded on bail to February 16 for sentence.

Sonny Tuhi, 605mcg on October 25. Sentenced to 60 hours' community work and disqualified for six months.

Cherelle May Dudfield, 18, of Dunearn, 623mcg on October 31. Sentenced to 65 hours' community work and disqualified for six months.

- © Fairfax NZ News