Jesse Hemi, 25, faced three counts of burglary, five of obtaining by deception and a theft charge in the Ashburton District Court.

Around $4200 worth of reparation was sought by the victims, many of whom she’d scammed through Facebook marketplace.

Hemi would list an item, like a hair straightener, on the app and send interested purchasers her bank account, asking them to deposit the money beforehand.

After receiving the money, she’d stop responding to the purchasers, who never received what they’d paid for.

Around $570 in total was stolen by Hemi through this scam.

She was also guilty of burgling the Hampstead Sports Club, which Judge Dravtizki called her worst crime.

“That was very determined, there were bolt cutters used.”

Dravitzki said the sentencing options weren’t looking good for Hemi.

“She’s lucky she doesn’t go to jail.”

Lawyer Gretchen Hart asked for a lessened sentence as Hemi’s decisions were driven by the “need, not greed”.

Hemi had two children in her care, and the stolen money was being used for them.

She was also engaged in work at the Family Harm Trust, and throughout her hearings had been “open and honest about her offending”.

“She is committed to change for her children,” Hart said.

But Dravitzki said, no matter Hemi’s situation, there were issues with precedent which prevented her from receiving a lighter sentence.

“I just don’t see how some of those outcomes can be argued against [legal] authorities.”

The case was stood down - or paused - briefly so Hart could get up to speed on all of Hemi’s charges, some of which had come from Christchurch.

After reconvening, Dravizki said Hemi would probably receive a home detention sentence.

“It’s either that, or jail.”

Hemi will reappear in court for sentencing in December.

Drink driving after golf

Troy Eurypides Trevor Wiki-Arapeta, 27, pleaded guilty to a charge of drink driving.

Wiki-Arapeta had been playing golf at a charity match, and “overdid” the celebrations after his team won.

He’d had around four bottles of beer before getting behind the wheel.

Police stopped him driving down Archibald street where he blew 691 micrograms of breath alcohol.

Judge Dravitzki said that was a high breath alcohol level.

Wiki-Arapeta’s lawyer said while the drink driving was of concern, he hadn’t been stopped because of bad driving.

But Dravitzki said the man’s behaviour was dangerous, and he wouldn’t be let off lightly.

“It may very well be that you have an issue managing alcohol.”

Wiki-Arapeta was remanded for sentencing in January, and is under a bail condition not to drive.

“Good luck, Mr. Henare”

An Allenton man is on his final warning and will end up in jail if he reoffends, a District Court judge said.

Raymond Henare, 35, pleaded guilty to a number of supermarket thefts.

He stole meat, soft drinks and more from New World Ashburton on several occasions, as well as a Christchurch New World and a fuel station.

Judge Dravitzki said Henare had racked up 27 convictions since 2018, which meant he was running out of options.

“If you come back for more shoplifting, you're going to jail.

“I can’t believe you haven’t been sent to jail yet to be honest.”

Lawyer Gretchen Hart said Henare had been working hard to turn his life around in recent months.

He had started working, and his reporting to corrections had improved.

“While these may seem like small steps, they are nevertheless significant for this defendant given his life path so far.”

Dravitzki had proposed a sentence of “come up if called upon” for some of Henare’s charges - he’d face no consequence for them now, but if he reappeared in court within the next nine months for a new charge, all of his previous charges would reactivate and “aggravate” his crime.

Hart said come up if called upon was a big deterrent for Henare, and that he should be encouraged to continue his current trajectory.

Dravitzki imposed the sentence regardless, and said it could have been much worse.

“I’m only doing this because it sounds like you’re doing some good work.

“I’m prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt.”

Henare received a come up if called upon sentence for his theft, and must repay the businesses for the stolen goods.

He received a convict and discharge for another charge of failing to stop for police sirens, and was disqualified from holding a license for 12 months.

“Good luck Mr. Henare,” Dravitzki said.

Dud drug test gets drink driver caught

Despite clearing a drug test, an Ashburton man was charged with drink driving on a zero alcohol licence.

When Clifford James Duckmanton, 41, took a self-test the day after drinking, it showed there was no alcohol in his system.

But when pulled over by the police, he blew an alcohol level of 53 micrograms.

Judge Dominic Dravitzki said this was “very little”, as the legal limit is 250 micrograms, but Duckmanton’s zero alcohol licence prevented him from drinking any amount before driving.

“He, for very good reason, is now very careful about drinking and driving”, said Judge Dravitzki, noting it was Duckmanton’s 8th conviction for impaired driving.

Dravitzki said the man would be subjected to an alcohol interlock on his vehicle.

But Duckmanton said he’d prefer for his licence to be taken off him.

“I can’t afford the interlock”, he said.

“A thousand dollars to install, and then to take it out again, I just can’t afford that, your honour.”

Dravitzki still sentenced Duckmanton to the interlock, as after a period of time he’d be eligible to convert the consequence to a disqualification period.

Duckmanton is not allowed to drive for 28 days and will be charged a $450 fine.