Man admits taking surf club's trailer

A New Plymouth man with a long criminal history has conceded he stole East End Surf Life Saving Club's trailer.

Andre Scouten pleaded guilty yesterday in the New Plymouth District Court to cutting the chain to the club's $3000 trailer at 1.15am on October 3 and hitching it to the vehicle he was driving.

It was returned to the club by police who pulled him over.

For Scouten, lawyer Kylie Pascoe said Scouten had told her that a man who had connections to the club had told her client he could use the trailer to move furniture. He was going to use it and return it, Ms Pascoe said.

An alleged co-offender, Jason Wilson, a solo parent, earlier pleaded not guilty to the theft and was remanded to December 23 for a status hearing.

Scouten also admitted shoplifting beer, worth $14.60, from the Moturoa 4 Square. When a staff member chased him around the aisles, Scouten punched him and ran from the store still grasping the beer.

Police prosecutor Lewis Sutton told the court Scouten was lucky he was not charged with robbery for the offence.

Scouten denied a sixth charge, that he had taken his father's car without permission but acknowledged giving the police, who had pulled him up while he was behind the wheel, a false name.

Judge Rob Murfitt noted Scouten was not young and had a long list of convictions. He called for a pre-sentence and reparations report, and remanded him on bail to reappear on January 11 for sentencing.

- © Fairfax NZ News