Andrew Wayne Smith regards himself as a burglar with a conscience.
He will never burgle anyone's home.
He will never go near a commercial building if there are any staff present.
He was sorry to hear that a shop assistant at a place he burgled last year was
so upset she has given up her job.
He was also put out to hear himself described by crown prosecutor Zannah Johnston as "a recidivist burglar".
He doesn't see himself as a recidivist. He's trying to live crime-free, he says, but he relapses.
Christchurch District Court Judge Michael Green today sentenced the 40-year-old to yet another prison term -- four years and seven months.
It won't even start till February 2008 when his present five-and-a-half year term expires.
He had done 10 months at the Odyssey House rehabilitation programme and was out on parole when he did his latest spate of break-ins.
The Corrections Department has recalled him to prison to serve the rest of that sentence before he starts the new one.
Smith has 70 previous convictions for burglary, nine for receiving, and 16 for fraudulently using a document.
He has now pleaded guilty to six more burglaries.
When police searched his address they found a till. Smith then admitted other burglaries -- those he could remember. The drinking had made things a bit hazy.
Defence counsel Margaret Sewell said he had been trying to become crime-free. Earlier burglaries had been committed for commercial gain and to feed a gambling habit.
The latest spate were only committed to keep himself afloat.
Judge Green said: "It seems to me I am entitled to say that you virtually make your living by burgling commercial premises."
He imposed jail sentences totalling four years seven months.
Smith thanked the judge and Miss Sewell as he was led out of court to continue his long stretch.
- NZPA
