Masterton man pleads guilty to burglary

File photo / NZ Herald

A man has pleaded guilty to burgling a vacant fire-damaged house.

At 3am on December 17, police responded to a call from a neighbour, Masterton District Court was told yesterday.

They found Robert Koro Herbert Thompson, 48, in a bedroom holding a torch. He had taken boxes containing kids' toys, DVDs and Xbox games from a wardrobe and stacked them on a bed.

Thompson was arrested and taken to Masterton Police Station.

While he was being processed police found a cellphone charger and a pocket knife in his pocket which Thompson admitted he had taken from the house.

He said he had gone into the house to look for a cigarette.

Judge Mary O'Dwyer remanded Thompson on bail until February 21 for sentencing.