Burglar to pay for home stay

Her offence may sound like a fairy tale but there was no happy ending for burglar Vanessa Joy Long in court yesterday.

Long had admitted burglary after she was found in June asleep in a bed in a Hills Rd house she entered via an unlocked back door.

Before dropping into a slumber, the blonde, long-haired 39-year-old had raided the fridge, eaten some food, helped herself to alcohol and then tried on the householders' clothes.

Tired after her exploits, she decided the bed was just right and took a rest before being discovered by the homeowners when they returned.

In contrast to the Goldilocks fairy tale, Long did not make her escape into the forest, but was instead taken in by the police and charged with burglary.

At a court hearing in June, Long said she had blacked out and had no idea what had happened.

Yesterday in the Christchurch District Court, Judge Christopher Somerville sentenced Long to nine months supervision. She was also ordered to pay $1255 reparation for soiling the bed.

- © Fairfax NZ News