Sione Tupou Tonga (24) received a suspended sentence for serious housebreaking and theft of goods worth $4,200 at a home in Fangaloto.

Hon. Mr Justice Niu sentenced him on October 12 at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court. He pleaded guilty to the offence, which took place in the early hours of March 16, 2019.

The judge said, at about 3:00am the complainant and a friend were finishing their drinks and they went to sleep.

However, the defendant who had also been drinking in the compound was still awake and wanted to drink some more but had run out. 

The defendant then broke into the complainant's house and and stole a mobile phone, a laptop and four sleeves of cigarettes, altogether valued at $4,200, while the complainant and friend were sleeping. 

“When the complainant and friend woke up the next morning, they found those items missing. The friend went out and inquired at the neighbours as to whether anyone had seen anyone who might have stolen them. She just so happened to see you walking along the road carrying the missing mobile phone of the complainant, and she contacted the police,” said the judge.

The defendant was arrested by Police and the stolen goods were retrieved.

Probation said the defendant, who is unmarried, has a permanent job at a scrap metal workshop earning $200 per week. He had a previous conviction for housebreaking in 2011 and was given a probation of 12-months. 

The judge found the defendant's remorse and contrition for this offending genuine. 

"You readily admitted to the Police what you had done and you returned all the properties, which you took from the house and, most importantly, you, have pleaded guilty to these charges. You thereby show honesty."

The judge also found it very responsible and very mature of him to work hard and keep his job at the scrap metal workshop so that he could keep his younger brothers at school, so that they do not have to leave school like he did, because his parents did not have the money to pay for their school. 

"Your drinking problem must stop and you alone must stop it, otherwise, you will re-offend and you will appear before me again for sentence and again and again. You will then no longer be an asset and credit to anybody."

He then sentenced the defendant to one-year imprisonment suspended for two-years on conditions, that he serve 100-hours of community work and complete the drug and alcohol awareness course of the Salvation Army.