Two Blenheim men and a youth have been sentenced to community work and supervision for burgling businesses.
Sean William McElwain, 18, and Michael Scott Stanley, 25, a food industry worker, both of Blenheim, admitted burglary of Mr Frys in Alana Place, Witherlea, on July 17.
The pair, along with McElwain's brother Nathan Ronald McElwain, 17, unemployed of Blenheim, also admitted burgling Asian food store, Mr Asia, in High St later that morning.
Sean McElwain also admitted burglary of Mr Frys on April 3.
Sean McElwain was sentenced to 12 months' supervision and ordered to pay $1200 reparation when they appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday. On each of the three burglary charges and one charge of possessing gloves, pillowcases used as a disguise and a crowbar, he was sentenced to 100 hours' community work.
Nathan McElwain was sentenced to nine months' supervision and must pay $200 reparation.
He was given 60 hours' community work for each of a burglary charge and another for possessing gloves, pillowcases and a crowbar.
Stanley was sentenced to 12 months' supervision, ordered to pay $800 reparation and must do 100 hours' community work for each of two burglary charges.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Graham Single said Sean McElwain, Stanley and two other associates were in a car outside the takeaway store about 1.30am on July 17.
They put pillowcases over their faces and went to the back of the store but could not get in so went to the front of the store and used a small crowbar to smash the window.
Chocolate, potato chips and Panadol were among the items put into a backpack as they moved around the store.
Sean McElwain and Stanley got back into the car and went to a nearby property to eat the food.
About 3am the same morning, the McElwain brothers and Stanley went to the Mr Asia store. While wearing the pillowcases, they broke in but did not take anything.
The men were seen by police, who found the pillowcases, crowbar and pairs of gloves.
Sean McElwain and Stanley's defence lawyers John Holdaway and Rob Harrison, respectively, said both defendants had begun reparation payments.
Nathan McElwain's lawyer Bryony Millar said that her client was no longer in contact with his brother.
Judge Peter Hobbs said Nathan McElwain had a limited history.
Sean McElwain and Stanley both had alcohol issues that needed to be addressed, he said.
- The Marlborough Express
Last updated 13:00 30/08/2011
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