Chef turns burglar

A Wanaka pizzeria can expect a letter of apology and a large cheque from its former chef who burgled the restaurant 13 times.

The lawyer for 20-year-old Timothy James Andrews handed the letter to police, with a copy to Christchurch District Court Judge David Saunders, at sentencing yesterday.

Craig Fletcher said Andrews had also saved $900 which would be paid immediately to Da Vinci's Pizzeria.

The remaining outstanding $500 would follow in weekly instalments. Police said Andrews kept entering the restaurant after hours, taking cash, alcohol and food, and even cooking pizzas, which were taken back to a party.

Judge Saunders sentenced him to 250 hours of community work and ordered him to pay full reparations.