Crime spree puts addict back in jail

A drug addict who went on a two-month crime spree after being freed from prison this year has been sentenced to 14 years' jail.

Timothy John Beale, 33, had pleaded guilty to five charges of aggravated robbery and four charges of kidnapping. In the Hamilton District Court yesterday, Judge Neil McLean jailed Beale for a non-parole period of nine years and four months.

The court was told that Beale was paroled this year after serving 2 1/2 years for burglary.

He got a job with a subcontractor and planned to go straight. But when the subcontractor could not pay him, the drug addict turned back to crime to pay for his addiction.

Beale and his accomplice Lee Franklin Delegat netted more than $50,000 and cigarettes valued at several hundred dollars in a two-month crime spree.

Delegat was sentenced to 13 years' jail on four charges of aggravated robbery and four charges of kidnapping, when he appeared in New Plymouth District Court in August.

During June, the duo robbed Whangamata Club, Hamilton's Eastside Tavern, the Te Puna Tavern and New Plymouth's Treehouse Bar and Cafe. Beale then robbed the Frankton BNZ in July.

Defence lawyer Roger Laybourn said when Beale was released from prison he genuinely wanted to go straight, but a lack of support meant he went back to his old habits.

Judge MacLean said Beale's drug habit led to the aggravated robberies.

"He had very heavy personal spending and very heavy drug spending, and thought he had no other option than to obtain money this way."

- NZPA