Michael Lawrence Best's offending last year - including smashing up Rimutaka Prison - caused a huge amount of damage and losses but it was unrealistic to order the teenager to pay for any of it, Christchurch District Court Judge Jane Farish decided.
She made no order for reparationsas she jailed 18-year-old Best for three years.
He had offered to pay the $19,000 reparation sought for the losses in four Christchurch burglaries, but defence counsel Gilbert Hay acknowledged it would take 19 years to repay that amount, the Christchurch Court News website reported.
Best was appearing for sentence on Friday after admitting charges of rioting, intentional damage, and the four burglaries.
Crown prosecutor Zannah Johnston said Best graduated from the Youth Court to the adult jurisdiction in August 2006. Including the latest bout of burglaries, he had convictions for 13 break-ins since then.
Mr Hay said it was premature and - possibly a little harsh - for the pre-sentence report writer to classify Best as a recidivist burglar.
He was doing a 15-month sentence for two burglaries in Rimutaka Prison in May last year when the riot took place. The total damage bill was $221,000.
"The pre-sentence report says you are beginning to have some insight into your offending, but unless you change you are going to spend increasingly long periods in custody. It is up to you to change, and to have a serious desire to do so," Judge Farish said.
