TOP STORY: Man who burgled 223 times is jailed

The Bay's worst burglar, Dean Vincent, says he will write a letter to victims he traumatised and apologise for breaking into their holiday homes and helping himself to their food and clothing.
While living rough for the past 16 months, Vincent broke into dozens of baches across the Bay of Plenty, and stole food and clothing before vanishing into the bush.
The 40-year-old was renowned for cooking himself meals, doing the dishes and then taking a nap in bed.
In Tauranga District Court yesterday, Vincent was sentenced to seven years' jail.
He had pleaded guilty to 42 charges of breaking into baches and homes from Pukehina Beach across to Lakes Rotoiti, Rotoehu and Rotoma, near Rotorua.
He also admitted one charge of arson after setting fire to a stolen four-wheel-drive vehicle.
The court heard that Vincent already had 181 burglary convictions. Now, with another 42, his total was 223.
Vincent also had convictions for two prison escapes and others for various charges.
Dressed in a grey T-shirt and jeans, Vincent was flanked by two prison officers in the court dock.
Judge Christopher Harding described the offending as "serious, repetitive and predatory".
Vincent must serve a minimum non-parole period of four years.
"The only time the community is free from predation is when you are in prison," Mr Harding said. "You have a bad record and previous prison terms have not been a deterrent. Something approaching the maximum sentence must be considered."
Mr Harding said about $38,000 reparation was owed but there was little chance of victims being paid as the only assets Vincent had were the clothes he was wearing.
Vincent went into bush survival mode after being paroled in July 2003, with 2 1/2 years still remaining on a six-year sentence.
The long arm of the law finally caught up with Vincent last December after he was discovered riding a stolen motorbike without a helmet near Pukehina Beach.
He had been living in a hole in the ground, covered with tarpaulin.
At yesterday's sentencing, Vincent presented a hand-written letter to the judge in which he said he would write to all the victims he had burgled over the past 16 months and apologise.
His lawyer, Nicholas Dutch, read the opening sentence of the letter to the court: "I would sincerely like to apologise to those I have offended by my conduct."
Mr Dutch said Vincent had been stealing for survival and not for more sinister motives.
Vincent said he hoped a letter to each of the victims would help bring them closure. He had pleaded guilty to the charges and had co-operated with police once he was arrested, his lawyer said.
Appearing for the Crown, Rob Ronayne said the latest string of burglaries happened while Vincent was on parole for a burglary sentence.
The fact that he had targeted baches or houses where no one was home made it worse, Mr Ronayne said.
"The victims were more vulnerable as he knew it would reduce his chances of being detected for some time."
Mr Ronayne said the appropriate starting point was 12 years in jail but Vincent, whom he described as a career burglar, was entitled to a discount for his guilty pleas and the help he had given police.
After his arrest, Vincent showed police the homes he had burgled and helped them recover stolen property. As a result, police were able to solve 90 per cent of the crimes for which Vincent was responsible.