Kelikupa Maile (33) from Longolongo was convicted of serious housebreaking and theft of goods valued at around $14,990 pa'anga from his neighbour's home in December last year.

He will be sentenced on October 4 at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.

Hon. Mr Justice Cato in his verdict on September 5, said the court heard evidence from the complainant that the offences occured a week before Christmas 2018.

She had left her home with her husband and on returning noticed the front door unlocked and gate open. The complainant discovered that her television, laptops and other items from the house were gone. The Police were notified on the same day.

The complainant said, the accused and his wife (who was working at a bank) were her neighbours, and she had received certain information that made her suspicious about the accused who was unemployed. She informed Police of her suspicion.

The judge accepted evidence of a witness that she had received incriminating items from the accused, which had been stolen.The items were later located after being resold prior to Christmas 2018.

He said, the admission by the accused that he broke into the home was independent evidence linking him with the offences charged.

"I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the goods located at the accused's residence and taken from subsequent purchasers of them and identified by the complainant were hers and stolen in the value stated by her."

However, a good deal of the property was not recovered.