Undie thief faces judge

A Tauranga man caught peering into women's homes at night paid half the cost of a security light for one of his victims, after stealing her underwear.

Devon Adam Roman, 26, was sentenced to six months' community detention, 12 months' supervision and 150 hours' community work in Tauranga District Court yesterday.

He earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of theft, two charges each of burglary and being found, without reasonable excuse, peering into houses at night.

The offences were all committed in Bellevue Rd between March 2 and April 12, and one of Roman's victims is his neighbour.

Roman's lawyer Rob Stevens urged Judge Thomas Ingram to impose community detention, supervision and community work.

Mr Stevens said the psychological assessment report confirmed that with counselling, it was unlikely Roman's offending would ever be repeated.

Roman had also participated in a restorative justice conference with his victims, at which the complainants' expressed no objection to his client serving an electronically monitored sentence at his original address.

Mr Stevens said as part of his offer to make amends, Roman had paid half the cost of installing a security light at his neighbour's home after peering into her house and stealing her underwear. Roman was also immediately able to pay $320 for the stolen camera, which he threw away after he burgled the second victim's home on March 2.

Judge Ingram told Roman his offending was serious enough to warrant a prison sentence.

However, the judge said Roman had taken a "very responsible approach" in fronting up to his victims and ensuring there were sufficient safeguards in place to help him avoid offending in this way again.

Judge Ingram said after considering a psychological assessment and restorative justice conference report, he was persuaded that community detention, supervision and community work were the appropriate sanctions.