A 24-year-old man from Luatuanu'u and Fusi, Saoluafata, has been sentenced to three years in jail for a series of thefts, which the court has deemed to be re-offending.

Justice Leiataualesa Darryl Clarke sentenced Sefo Eusipio for two counts of burglary, two counts of theft and one count of causing injuries.

According to the summary of facts, Eusipio was first charged in 2019 for unlawfully breaking into the home of a 36-year-old woman at Luatuanu'u. 

The defendant broke into the bedroom where the victim and her son were sleeping and stole a phone, and the victim only noticed that her phone was missing when she woke up at 4 am.

On the second offence, Eusipio again entered a home at Luatuanu'u by cutting the fence and entered the bedroom by breaking louvre blades while the victim was sleeping.

On that occasion, he stole a Samsung phone valued at $2,300. He was arrested on 17 October 2021 and was released on bail.

According to Justice Clarke, Eusipio did not appear when his first two matters were called and kept on offending.

The third offence occurred at Alafua on 28 November 2022, where the defendant entered the home of a foreign man and his family while they were sleeping.

When the victim tried to stop the defendant, he threw the victim on the floor, kicked him in the stomach and punched him several times.

He stole $50 cash and fled.

The outcome of the defendant's third offence landed the victim, a 39-year-old man, in hospital and required him two weeks to recover.

The last offence occurred at Maluafou, where the defendant entered the home of a man and stole an iPhone valued at $3,180 while the victim was sleeping.

This offence happened on 15 July this year while the defendant was out on bail.

During sentencing, Justice Clarke told the defendant that what he did during his third offence must be discouraged, that is, breaking into a home and causing injuries to someone when he was caught trying to steal.

"You have been repeating this same offence while you were out on bail, and it shows that you only have remorse for yourself but not the victims who have fear of people like you who have been breaking into homes and businesses and stealing," Justice Clarke told the defendant.

"This is to send the message that burglary and theft are serious crimes and imprisonment sentencing is applicable to show that this should stop," he added.