Bobby Moana was sentenced in Hamilton District Court after a string of crimes, and has been warned that turning his life around now is vital. Photo:
A victim of a man who used various people's identities to hire a ute and thousands of dollars worth of equipment that was never returned has forgiven the offender and would like to catch up with him once he has served his sentence.
Bobby Moana and a co-accused used stolen driver's licences to hire, then steal, a vehicle and nearly $9000 worth of equipment from Hirepool franchises in Auckland - only to be caught in Palmerston North a couple of days later.
When spoken to by police, Moana claimed one of the stolen identities was his "cousin" who had let him use the vehicle to get out of Auckland.
The 32-year-old appeared in the Hamilton District Court for sentencing last week, on charges of obtaining by deception and using a document - an ANZ bank card - for pecuniary advantage.
Judge Glen Marshall told Moana he was ready to send him to jail for his antics but then he received various advice in court reports on the offender.
One was from restorative justice, which detailed how the victim said he not only forgave Moana but would also like to meet up with him after he finished his sentence.
The court heard it was Moana's co-accused who managed to get the identities of an Auckland couple after receiving one of their cellphones that had been stolen on 2 December, 2022.
The pair used the couple's details to hire a vehicle from Hirepool on 22 December of that year.
Two days later, Moana picked up the Toyota Hilux ute and handed over another victim's driver's licence, which the victim had lost that year while on a fishing trip.
He extended the booking before not returning the vehicle at all.
On 24 December, Moana and his associate went to a Hirepool Manukau, driving the stolen Toyota, and hired various pieces of equipment worth $8590, under the name of a painting and decorating company, again using the stolen licence.
The equipment was never returned.
The pair were eventually caught in Palmerston North on 28 December, following a short pursuit by police. They had a stolen generator in the back of the vehicle.
Then in October 2023, Moana used a stolen bank card to buy cigarettes and vape products from four dairies, and to make one online purchase.
He spent $743.31, and when questioned by police, he said he would "take that on the chin".
Police said the total reparations owed was $15,928.34.
'He could end up a lonely man'
At sentencing, Judge Marshall told Moana he was considering a 24-month jail term before reading his reports.
He then accepted Moana's request to hand down a home detention sentence so he could attend the Tai Aroha rehabilitative programme.
"Mr Moana may have had a wake-up call," the judge said.
"He's met with one of the victims of his dishonesty who wished him well at the end and said that he would like to catch up with him after.
"The most significant one was meeting with his partner, who he's really put through the wringer over the years, and not only her but his family, his kids.
"He's treated them pretty badly."
Judge Marshall said it appeared Moana was now up for the challenge of turning his life around.
The Tai Aroha course was tough, with many not completing it, but those that did labelled it "life-changing".
"It's not an easy course, but it's relatively short, just under four months, but long enough for people to learn to change and embrace all the change.
"He better put his all in, otherwise even his family ... may turn their backs on him and he could end up a lonely man."
Moana was sentenced to home detention for three months and 23 days, ordered to complete the programme, and to pay his share of the reparation.
*This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald.
Photo: Open Justice