A man who stole a black and silver sword from his neighbours' house was convicted and given a community-based custodial sentence with electronic monitoring when he appeared in Orange Local Court on Monday.
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According to police, John Alfred Williams, 37, from Leura Place, argued with his neighbours in their driveway when they were going out at 1.20pm on March 3.
When one of the neighbours returned 20 minutes later the man found cupboards open, a curtain had been moved, the front door had been forced open and damaged and a sword, which was part of a set of three, was missing.
The man phoned police who found the missing sword in Williams' house at 8.45pm.
Solicitor Denis Whiteman said Williams had a drug problem but his client said he wanted to do something about it and was on a waiting list for a methadone program.
Magistrate David Day said Williams offending was aggravated by a lengthy record of drug related property offences for which he received jail sentences in 2001, 2011, 2012 and 2016.
"He's a break and enter merchant, he deserves to go to jail," Mr Day said.
Mr Day convicted Williams and gave him a two-year intensive correction order for the break and enter. The order will include a provision that he attend rehabilitation and be subject to electronic monitoring.
Mr Day said the electronic monitoring was so authorities would know if Williams visited a drug house.
He also gave Williams an 18-month community correction order requiring rehabilitation and additional treatment.
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