A LOCAL man who broke into the Hamilton History Centre to steal their donations has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.

David Watt, 44, appeared at the Hamilton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to charges of failing to appear, failing to answer bail, burglary, and trespassing.

The court heard that between the end of November 2021 and January 3, 2022, Watt entered a property on Stephen Street, Hamilton, by using a garbage bin to climb through a window in the bathroom.  

Police prosecutor senior constable, Paul Harris, said the trespass was noticed on January 3, 2022, by an off-duty police officer who had attended the home to clean up as part of an agreement they have with the owner where they assist to look after the property.

The off-duty officer discovered the break in when they noticed the bin under the bathroom window and reported it to police, with crime scene investigators attending the property and processing the scene where they obtained fingerprints from the window. 

On January 24, Watt was arrested where he denied the offence and was released pending further information.

Later that week forensic officers confirmed the fingerprints taken from the window belonged to Watt.

In a separate incident, between January 16-17, 2022, Watt used a jemmy bar to break the door at the side of the Hamilton History Centre and gain access to the building where he opened the donation tin looking for money.

The incident was reported to police on January 18 after a witness attended the property and saw the damage, with police obtaining more fingerprints from the broken door, which were confirmed as Watt’s on February 1. 

Watt was arrested on February 3 where he made full admissions to the burglary at the Hamilton History Centre.

He was released on bail with conditions for him to reside at a Hamilton address and adhere to a curfew, with an agreement in place that upon arrival for a curfew check, police would call Watt who would then go out to meet them.

In another incident on October 8, 2022, police attended the Hamilton address to complete a curfew check, where they called Watt as per their agreement and he said he was not home, but on his way to the hospital. Police then called the hospital which confirmed Watt never attended. 

On May 11, 2022, Watt was bailed to attend the Hamilton Magistrates’ Court on July 6, where he failed to appear and a warrant was issued.

He was then arrested but failed to appear in court in January this year.

Watt’s lawyer, Lucy Tribe, told the court that with the incident at Stephen Street, Watt attended the property to get antique tins belonging to him that had been stored there for the past two years.

Ms Tribe said he had attempted to organise a collection time with the owner, however that did not occur as they do not reside at the property.

Regarding the History Centre burglary, Ms Tribe said Watt admitted to entering the building looking for money but acknowledged it was a “stupid thing to do” and he regrets doing it.

When addressing the failure to appear on charges, Ms Tribe said the accused believed he was required in court on another date, and he voluntarily attended the police station when he learnt of the warrant for his arrest.

Ms Tribe told the court Watt had been out of jail for two years and was trying to stop using drugs, with the police saying he was not “popping up on their radar” and they had noticed he was looking a lot healthier lately.

She said he can’t blame anyone for his criminal history other than himself and he has previously struggled with alcohol use and drugs after starting ice at the age of 38, using crime to fund his habit.

The court heard Watt had an “appalling criminal history” with a lot of relevant offences which includes jail time, but he was trying to change his life for his children.

Ms Tribe submitted community work and drug treatment as a potential sentencing option, saying this could be “the turning point” for him if he received some assistance for his drug addiction.

Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge said it was time Watt took some control of his life without corrections or the parole board looking over his shoulder and there was “no alternative but an immediate term of imprisonment”.

He said the burglary at the Hamilton History Centre was an egregious offence and the fact he continues to not appear on his court dates says something about the respect he shows the community and the court.

“You know damn well what the position is going to be when you get a jemmy and break into a community organisation to steal the modest amount of funds they have in there,” he said.

“At the age of 43 it seems to me that you’ve got to make some choices … if you need assistance with that then go get the help you need.

“But ultimately it’s up to you.”

 During sentencing Magistrate Lethbridge said he took into consideration the guilty plea at the earliest opportunity, the fact it was not a domestic burglary, and his plea during the pandemic.

Magistrate Lethbridge convicted Watt and sentenced him to an aggregate sentence of six months’ imprisonment.