Youth avoids jail for $10k vandalism spree

Judge Tuohy sentenced Stefan Traber, 17, to 200 hours' community work and ordered him to pay $5000 reparation after convicting him on two charges of burglary and two charges of wilful damage.

A teenager left a trail of destruction around downtown Masterton, causing more than $10,000 in damage and swiping more than 90 packets of legal highs.

Stefan Traber, 17, appeared in the Masterton District Court this week for sentencing on two charges of burglary and two charges of wilful damage.

The court heard Traber and a friend forced their way into Masterton Tranzit at night on July 1. The two broke into 12 buses and stole 11 safety hammers, used for breaking glass.

Before leaving Tranzit they had smashed six bus windows, causing nearly $5000 of damage.

Traber and his friend had then gone to Masterton Bin Inn, in Queen St, and smashed a window there for "no apparent reason", Judge Chris Tuohy said.

The damage to Bin Inn amounted to $2000.

They had then gone to Masterton Master Bowl and smashed another window, causing a further $600 in damage.

Their last stop was at Masterton Star Movies, where they smashed a window and stole 91 packets of herbal highs, valued at about $2000. The damage to the window was about $1000.

Defence lawyer James Elliot said Traber was someone who may be easily influenced. "That is what happened on this occasion."

He said Traber was "otherwise a young man with prospects."

Judge Chris Tuohy told Traber his offending was serious and if not for his age he might have been looking at a prison sentence.

"You're lucky you're only 17, or you might have found yourself going to prison.

"[It was] a really destructive series of events."

Judge Tuohy sentenced Traber to 200 hours' community work and ordered him to pay half of the reparations, more than $5000.