Burglar dealt some misery too

A burglar who caused misery to his victims was dealt some of his own in the Hamilton District Court.

"I deal in misery," Judge Thomas Ingram told Richard Matenga after reading his letter of apology on Tuesday.

"Because I deal in misery ... I'm going to deal some out to you today," the judge said as he jailed Matenga for two years and nine months.

Matenga, 21, had earlier pleaded guilty to eight charges of burglary, five of receiving stolen property and three cannabis-related charges.

Between January and March, Matenga carried out a spree of daytime burglaries, targeting commercial premises in Hamilton, the court heard.

When discovered by staff, Matenga would devise a "con" story and quickly leave.

Judge Ingram said Matenga had a "bad record" which dated back to the Youth Court. He had also amassed $32,000 in unpaid fines.

The judge said Matenga had no ability to pay reparation and appeared not to accept responsibility for his actions.

Matenga's offending caused his victims misery and represented a "spectacular fall from grace", Judge Ingram said.

Defence counsel Michael Talbot said Matenga was desperate to return to his family and had a newborn child he hadn't met.

- © Fairfax NZ News