A 28-year-old homeless man who broke into a church to steal food because he was hungry, was released on $1,000 bail, with orders to pay back the church.
Senior Magistrate Juan Wolffe ordered a social inquiry report for Sean Burchall, who was charged with stealing more than $300 worth of food from Wesley Methodist Church in Hamilton on Thursday (August 6).
Burchall admitted committing the offence on March 20.
The court heard that he broke a window in the nursery section at the side of the church and ransacked the teachers’ desks.
But he was captured on video cameras inside the church and recognised by police who subsequently arrested him on March 30.
Burchall told the court that he was homeless and drunk on the night in question and that he was working on the Hustle Truck.
He also said that he was undergoing psychiatric treatment.
The Senior Magistrate also ordered him to undergo a drug assessment, before he adjourned the case until September 18.
