A man has been jailed for stealing belongings worth nearly $46,800 from his sister’s home.
Siaosi Halaholo Vete, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of serious housebreaking and two counts of theft.
Vete was sentenced to a term of two years imprisonment with the last six months suspended for six months on the following conditions:
a. He must not commit any further offence punishable by imprisonment
b. He must be placed under probation during the term of your suspended sentence
c. He must report to the Probation Office within 24 hours of your release from custody.
d. He must live where directed by the Probation Officer
For the avoidance of doubt, Vete will serve 18 months of imprisonment and then six months of a suspended sentence on the conditions mentioned above.
Vete broke into the house twice. In the first instance, he stole goods for the value of $16,000 and, in the second, for the value of $30,798.
Much of the goods has not been recovered.
The court heard Vete was offending to fund his methamphetamine addiction and had similar previous convictions, but none for theft.
The offence was committed while his sister and her husband were abroad.
The court was told his sister and her husband had forgiven him for what he did.
“That is to their credit, and I bear it in mind in determining whether to suspend
part of the custodial sentence, which in your case I consider inevitable”, Mr Bishop said.
