Police gathered DNA from discarded beer bottles to track a Masterton man who, with others, broke into the Pahiatua Fire Station causing damage estimated at $4500, Masterton District Court was told yesterday.
Damien Reahana Tilyard, 33, pleaded guilty to burglary but counsel Peter Stevens said his client was so drunk he had very little memory of it and didn't even know who his co-offenders were.
According to the police summary of facts, Tilyard, with others who have never been identified, parked a car in a service lane close to the fire station on the night of July 6 last year.
They used a screwdriver to take out a window to get into the building where they stole a TV set worth $900, and speakers worth $300, which they stashed outside.
These items were later found by police but were damaged by rain.
Amplifiers, a DVD player, a fire brigade trophy and a children's toy box housed at the station were also taken.
The intruders smashed a hole in a door to the bar and then wrecked a screen to get access to wine and beer and a till containing a cash float.
Sergeant Garry Wilson said Tilyard and his companions then set about opening cupboards and rummaging through the fire station.
They stole food from a kitchen and consumed it - along with beer - while in the building.
Tilyard was later traced using the DNA gathered from the bottles, he said.
Mr Stevens said Tilyard was caring nearly full-time for his terminally ill partner and had been given leeway by police from a curfew to travel to and from Wellington Hospital to be with her.
Tilyard had been a passenger in the car used in the burglary and had "very little recollection of being there".
Mr Stevens said Tilyard had stayed out of trouble for several years before the burglary.
Judge Denys Barry said the record showed Tilyard had five previous burglary convictions but the latest dated back 12 years. "You were convicted for receiving in 2003 and since then most of your offending has tailed off."
Judge Barry said Pahiatua firefighters had been "gutted" to think their volunteer organisation had been targeted and had set about to sort out the situation and tidy up after the burglary.
"They have had to install an alarm and security system."
Tilyard told the court he felt gutted by what he had done.
The judge said Tilyard had spent the last year on an extended curfew and it was better for him to be at home and able to travel to Wellington to help his ill partner.
He said although damage worth $4500 had been caused by the burglars it was impractical to seek that amount from Tilyard who has "no real source of funds".
He would instead order him to pay the insurance premium excess of $300 that existed on the policy held by the fire brigade.
He also sentenced Tilyard to 200 hours' community work.