Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Tauranga man gets 2 year's prison for quake theft

Updated at 5:46 pm on 16 May 2012

A Tauranga contractor has been sentenced to two years in prison for stealing more than $23,000 worth of products from businesses in Christchurch's inner city red zone.

Victor Tupotahi Jackson, 38, who pleaded guilty to four counts of theft, worked as a plasterer on earthquake repairs in the CBD between October 2011 and January 2012.

Jackson stole clothing, accessories, cosmetics and footwear from Ballantynes, and Colombus and Ware menswear, before having them couriered to Tauranga where he held a garage sale.

In the Christchurch district court on Wednesday, Judge Moran said Jackson took advantage of earthquake victims and his sentence should act as a deterrent for others thinking of doing the same.

While most of the stolen property has been recovered by police, Jackson has been ordered to pay $6000 in reparations for items that have not been found.

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