An Invercargill man’s been handed a home detention sentence for a three-month crime spree that culminated in a brazen daytime theft from a Queenstown sports store.
Reece Mark Pottinger Gibson, 33 was sentenced in Queenstown’s court on Monday on 21 charges arising from offending in Invercargill and the resort between March and June.
Gibson and an unnamed woman were arrested near Lake Hayes on June 30 after he stole items from four retail stores in Queenstown and Frankton.
Mountain Scene reporters witnessed the aftermath of the last theft, when a worker from Small Planet chased Gibson down Athol Street after he ran out of the store with nearly $4000 worth of clothing.
He got into a vehicle, driven by his associate, and got away, despite the efforts of an unidentified woman who twice attempted to block its exit.
In all, Gibson was sentenced on 18 charges of theft, committed between March 23 and June 30, as well as single charges of possessing drug utensils, failing to stop, and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
His victims included several small independent stores, Invercargill’s Elles Road New World supermarket, and retail chains Kmart, Briscoes, Noel Leeming, Macpac and Mitre 10.
Five of the charges related to petrol drive-offs at BP, Z Energy, Mobil and Challenge stations in Invercargill.
Judge John Brandts-Giesen said the offending was a continuation of Gibson’s ‘‘appalling record of dishonesty’’ — he’s racked up 99 convictions since 2006.
He owes $13,000 in reparation from the latest batch of offences.
‘‘You need to decide whether you want to become a good father to your son, or just be an embarrassment.
‘‘This cycle of crime has to come to an end.’’
Taking into account Gibson’s expression of remorse, drug addiction and mental health issues, and noting he’d been in paid employment since last month, Brandts-Giesen converted a sentence of 18 months’ prison to home detention, to be served at a Winton address, and imposed six months’ post-detention conditions.
He’s also been ordered to pay $4863 reparation to the three smallest businesses affected, because expecting him to repay all the businesses he’d stolen from would ‘‘set him up to fail’’.
Skier hits bump
A United States freestyle ski team member avoided conviction after a drunken escapade in Queenstown early on Monday.
Charlie James Mickel, 18, of Colorado, was granted diversion by police only hours after his arrest for intentional damage and escaping police custody.
A police summary of facts said Mickel and a friend were removed from Church St’s Yonder about 1.15am because of their state of drunkenness.
Mickel then picked up a pot plant outside neighbouring restaurant Blue Kanu and smashed it to the ground.
After being arrested by police he ran away, but was found soon afterwards in a nearby street.
Diversion’s a police scheme in which offenders are dealt with ‘out of court’ and their charges withdrawn, usually for minor offences, contingent, often, on an apology and reparation payment.
Mickel, who won the men’s freestyle moguls event at the US championships in March, left New Zealand on Tuesday after training in the Queenstown Lakes.
Other convictions
● Gavin Bruce Spence, 42, concrete worker, of Queenstown, aggravated disqualified driving, January 12, Invercargill; breaching community work, January 13-February 3; theft, April 16, Alexandra, 200 hours’ community work, reparation $500, fined $400, 12 months’ supervision.
● Jade Brendon Martin, 28, beneficiary, of Wānaka, assault with intent to injure, February 14, 2021; assault in family relationship, August 18-September 1, 2021; intentional damage, speaking threateningly, possessing methamphetamine pipe, September 29, 2021, 60 hours’ community work, 12 months’ intensive supervision, reparation $600.
● Adam Lawrence Bedggood, 33, scaffolder, of Queenstown, assault, June 27, July 20 and July 30, six months’ community detention, 150 hours’ community work, 12 months’ supervision, reparation $700.
● Mark Michael Robinson, 37, of Queenstown, burglary, June 26-July 18; burglary, July 5-14; burglary, July 13-14; breaching bail, July 14; burglary, July 19, 16 months’ prison, reparation $3544.96.
