Fountain thief told to splash out $1760

A 23-year-old Dargaville man who wrenched a copper fountain from the Riverside Te Taha Awa to sell for scrap has been ordered to pay reparation for its replacement.

Appearing in the Dargaville District Court on Wednesday, Jason David Ross also pleaded guilty to stealing copper spouting from Ruawai Primary School.

The court heard that Ross' actions had been driven by financial difficulties. He also admitted he had problems with alcohol and cannabis.

In December 2012, Ross had been subcontracted on a job at the Ruawai Primary School.

He walked off the job after an argument with the contractor, taking copper spouting that had been taken down for replacement and selling it for scrap metal.

In sentencing, Judge Greg Davis noted Ross had cleaned up his act and recently secured a farming job in Morrinsville, to where the family would relocate.

The judge noted $4000 in reparation for the copper spouting had not been sought since the contractor had withheld payment to Ross to cover the theft. However, Ross must pay $1760 in reparation for the water fountain, was convicted and sentenced to 200 hours' community work on each of the two charges of theft, to be served concurrently, 12 months' supervision and drug and alcohol counselling.

Fines of $1200 were remitted.