A man will serve an 18-month jail sentence in the community after he stole $17,00 from a Bega home and breached two of his AVO conditions.
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Christopher John Aldridge, 45, of Tanja, appeared in court on Tuesday April 12 to be sentenced for the break and enter charge after he broke into a Bega home in August 2021. He pleaded guilty to the charge on October 12, 2021.
The court also heard that the man had contravened two restrictions in an unrelated AVO in January 2022.
Court documents revealed that before the home invasion Aldridge had posed as a member of a wildlife organisation collecting signatures for a local bat colony.
The documents state the home invasion occurred moments after he witnessed a neighbouring occupant leave their home.
The court heard he entered the bathroom of the home before rummaging through bedrooms in the house, including the main bedroom where he ransacked jewellery boxes. He also stole the sum of $17,000 cash from a side table.
Court documents revealed the man was later arrested after DNA samples were found in the home.
In court, Aldridge's legal aid representative said his client had actively engaged in drug and alcohol rehabilitation, which had allowed him to recognise his issues.
He said the court-ordered report had not been favourable, but Aldridge was remorseful about the home invasion.
He also said Aldridge had received support and mentorship from Katungal and "looked a lot healthier".
The lawyer said Aldridge would not be suitable for community service due to health issues, but the efforts he had taken to improve his life would make him a suitable candidate for an intensive corrections order.
Magistrate Doug Dick said the man would have to pay back compensation of $17,000 to the owner of the house.
The magistrate said he accepted the submissions about Mr Aldridge's changed lifestyle and would allow him to serve his sentence in the community.
He was given an aggregate sentence to serve an 18 month intensive corrections order with strict conditions including abstaining from drugs and alcohol and attending any court-appointed treatments.
"You'll be a better person in the end," Magistrate Dick said.
"What I've done now is put the future in your hands, if you do something wrong it's your own fault."