Beehive theft accused remanded

The case of Masterton man Jaime Daniel McRae, 21 accused of stealing beehives and equipment valued at more than $15,000 will be reviewed next month.

The case of a Masterton man accused of stealing beehives and equipment valued at more than $15,000 will be reviewed next month. Jaime Daniel McRae, 21, appeared before Judge Barbara Morris in Masterton District court when defence lawyer James Elliott said he was in discussions with police and there was a "resolution in the pipeline".

The court also heard that McRae, a bricklayer, was moving to Blenheim for work. McRae previously pleaded not guilty to charges of stealing beehives worth $5000 from Kiwi Bee Ltd on August 28 and stealing beehives and equipment worth $10,000 from the property of Wairarapa Manuka Honey between January 1 and September 1, last year.

He is also charged with receiving a beehive worth $250 between the same period. McRae was remanded on bail and ordered to report to Blenheim Police three days a week. He is due back in Masterton District Court for a case review on February 17.

Man walks
Homeless Masterton man Benjamin Hawea, 22, has been sentenced to two months' imprisonment on charges of trespass and unlawfully being in a building but won't spend another day in jail. He pleaded guilty to the charges when he appeared before Judge Morris in Masterton District Court. Hawea was found in Memorial Park grandstand on November 21, for which there is a trespass order forbidding him from entering.

Lawyer Jock Blathwayt asked that Hawea be sentenced to a short jail term as he had been in custody since his arrest, and no address to bailed to. He said Hawea had addiction problems which Hawea loudly denied from the dock.

Judge Morris warned Hawea to address his addiction issues or he could face an "extremely long prison sentence" if he came back before the court. He was released as he had served his full sentence while on remand in custody.