John Hodge Jr at the Magistrate's Court on May 10, 2013. Photo: VINO

Hodge pleaded guilty to the theft of 40 pounds of wire from the Festival Village grounds on August 12, 2012.

When the matter was brought before the Magistrate’s Court previously, Senior Crown Counsel Sarah Benjamin related that the matter was set for sentencing but there was difficulty in determining the cost of the material stolen by the defendant.

Ms Benjamin told the court that a witness in the matter was so far unable to determine the cost of the wire stolen, since distributors in the Territory sold the material based on its length and not its weight as is the determining factor in the case.

She indicated that there had also been some difficulty in contacting the witness recently but said she would continue to make attempts at contacting the individual. The court heard that the witness had estimated the weight of the material stolen based on what they had seen the defendant carrying.

Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards related to the defendant that the court was mindful of having a compensation order issued since the defendant should justifiably be made to pay for what he had stolen.

Magistrate Richards announced today, that she would only deal with the sentencing on this occasion as there was no progress on the issue of the cost of the wire stolen. She also stated that she did not feel that the aims of sentencing in this instance would be best met by a custodial sentence for the defendant.

Hodge reportedly told officers that he mistakenly believed that the items found at the Festival Grounds were for disposal and this was his reason for taking them. He also offered to repay from the inception and admitted to the investigating officers that he had committed the offence.

The father of two requested a two-month period to pay the fine but was instead only granted a one month period, failing which he would be required to serve the custodial sentence recommended as default.

Hodge was unrepresented in the matter.