He asked Judge Noel Walsh to instead impose a sentence of community detention, to keep Archibald away from hardened offenders.
Judge Walsh was also the judge to convict Archibald of all charges in the Westport District Court in September. At that appearance, police prosecutor Don Abbey read the exhaustive summary of facts aloud for the court.
On July 30, Archibald and a friend were hanging out in the lounge at Archibald's house when Archibald's long-time girlfriend asked them to keep the noise down, Abbey said in September.
A verbal argument ensued and soon became physical. Archibald pushed his girlfriend onto a coffee table, smashing it. He also punched her around the head and neck and when she tried to get up, he pushed her back down onto the broken coffee table, Abbey said.
She managed to make her way to the bedroom, but Archibald followed and continued to attack her. He left her with a gash in her head that required stitches and left her with swelling and bruising to the right side of her face.
At around midnight on August 19, Archibald entered the McManus Hotel through an unlocked kitchen door. He took two litres of milk and left the premises, returning a couple of hours later with a flashlight and duffle bag.
When police executed a search warrant at Archibald's address, they found a battery charger worth about $600 belonging to the hotel, Abbey said.
The next night, Archibald entered a vehicle parked on Henley Street and stole a cigarette lighter adapter, USB cables, a jump starter kit and $60 worth of beer.
Police executed a search warrant at Archibald's address on September 1 and located some of the items, Abbey said.
On August 22, Archibald targeted the Discount Dairy on Palmerston St. He got in through a back door and rummaged through a box, taking $60 worth of pies and sausage rolls.
On August 25, Archibald scaled a fence into a secure yard belonging to Buller Auto and stole a weedeater from a vehicle parked inside.
Between August 25 and 27, Archibald stole three televisions from three different rooms at the Palm Court Motel. The TVs were worth a combined $1500, Abbey said.
On August 29, while walking on Romilly St, Archibald noticed the sliding door to a house, just 50m from his own, was unlocked. After confirming there was no one home, he ransacked it. He stole jewellery, an Xbox, a large mirror, a GHD hair straightener and other items worth a combined $10,000.
At the time, he told police he saw an opportunity and took it, Abbey said.
On September 2, police executed a search warrant at Archibald's address and found stolen tobacco products. Archibald told them he knew the products were dodgy when he paid for them.
Police also located 100 cannabis seeds at Archibald's house, Abbey said.
Victims left 'shocked', 'violated'
In court yesterday, Judge Walsh read out some of the victims' impact statements.
One of the burglary victims said they felt "totally violated" by Archibald who had gone through their drawers and personal items.
Another burglary victim said Archibald had destroyed her faith in Westport.
"This man has ruined my overall perception of my town by making me suspicious of anyone I don't know. I was in total shock."
Judge Walsh said he agreed with Taffs that Archibald could easily be "contaminated" by more serious offenders while doing community work.
Instead, he sentenced Archibald to four months' home detention and 12 months' supervision. He also ordered the reparation of $1030 to all of the victims, plus a $400 emotional harm payment to the victim of the Romilly Street burglary.
He discharged Archibald for possession of cannabis seed.
- Westport News
