A Frankton beneficiary convicted of burglary, theft and receiving charges has been spared prison because of his efforts to turn his life around. Police say Jones and his associate received a Toyota Hilux stolen from near the Wye River bridge, on the Kingston Rd, in late March of 2024. Early on the morning of April 20, they were driving the stolen Hilux near Lake Pukaki when they drove down a farm track, climbed a fence and stole two containers of diesel oil from a shed. Jones and his associate were eventually arrested and charged with two charges of receiving, theft from a car and two charges of burglary. Mountain Scene did not attend Jones’ sentencing in Queenstown’s court on January 13, but applied for a copy of Judge Mark Williams’ sentencing remarks.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 14, 2026 15:51 UTC