Pubdate: Sat, 18 Jul 2009
Source: Dominion Post, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2009 The Dominion Post
Contact:  http://www.dompost.co.nz
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2550

JOHN KEY MANSION BURGLAR JAILED

A career burglar with a drug addiction who ripped off the prime
minister's Auckland home has been jailed.

John Key lost two watches and his wife Bronagh a large amount of
jewellery in the burglary of their $8 million mansion in July 2007.
Computers and sensitive files were untouched.

John Clark, 37, appeared in Auckland District Court yesterday on 20
burglary charges and seven of receiving.

Mr Key did not offer a victim impact statement, and is not seeking
reparation.

Clark, a P user who had already amassed 140 convictions, mostly for
dishonesty and burglary, was on bail or under supervision when he
committed the latest offences.

He was jailed for five years and three months. However, he has already
served two years on remand, meaning he is likely to be eligible for
parole by the end of the year.

The lightning raid on Mr Key's Remuera home happened when he was
leader of the opposition and was holidaying in Hawaii. Clark broke a
window and was in and out of the house in five minutes, leaving
clothes strewn around the house as he hunted for valuables.

Mr Key said at the time that he had a safe but had been lazy and had
not put the valuables in it. The house is now under full-time police
protection, which Mr Key refused to discuss.

Crown prosecutor Ben Finn said items stolen from 15 properties were
worth about $100,000. Clark had targeted affluent properties and
"turned the houses inside out".

He burgled to feed his drug habit, and appeared to feel a sense of
entitlement. "He doesn't have a job, this is how he gets his money."
He had shown no remorse and did not co-operate with police.

Defence lawyer Jonathan Wiles said Clark was at pains to ensure the
property owners were not at home when he struck. He regretted the
burglaries, but he had not contacted the victims to apologise.

As Clark was taken away, Judge Nicola Mathers addressed his father,
Jim, in the public gallery, telling him his son needed help now or he
would spend a lot of time in jail. "P is the problem. He is a really
nice bloke," Mr Clark replied. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake