February 05, 2010

Christmas present burglary admitted

Rory Khan Conley has admitted being the Christmas Grinch.

The 26-year-old unemployed St Albans man today pleaded guilty to a Christmas morning break-in where wrappeed presents were stolen from two little girls on holiday.

The break-in was at a unit in the Meadow Park Holiday Camp in Christchurch’s northern suburbs.

Conley broke into a unit where a family from the North Island was staying, and stole gifts for girls aged four and six.

The younger girl’s presents were recovered in a car driven by Conley soon after, but the older girl’s presents could not be found. Police hurriedly arranged for more freshly wrapped gifts to be delivered to the family.

Conley also admitted burglaries of a tent and the kitchen block at the holiday park and possession of a pipe for smoking cannabis.

But he is maintaining his not guilty pleas to a charge of burglary of a tent from which sleeping bags were taken, and possession of a modified fork which could be used for burglary. These two charges were remanded to a status hearing on February 20.

Conley has been in custody since his arrest on Christmas Day and Judge Tony Couch today further remanded him in custody to March 8 for sentence on the four charges he has admitted.

His alleged co-offender was arrested about three weeks later. He has indicated not guilty pleas and been remanded for a status hearing.