Burglar 'reassures' lodger | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

A lodger confronted by a fire extinguisher-wielding intruder at Carterton's Marquis Hotel
was reassured he wouldn't be hurt because the burglar just wanted ``to thieve stuff in the room next door''.

Carterton man Kane William Booth, 21 _ a convicted arsonist and burglar _ pleaded guilty to burglary at the Masterton District Court on Monday.

The court heard that Booth had been drinking in the public bar for about an hour from 7pm when he walked upstairs to the accommodation area of the hotel.

He  took a fire extinguisher and went through the TV lounge and on to the fire balcony.

He then began trying windows and unlocked one room from which he took a laundry bag full of sheets.

 In another room, a guest came back about 10pm and was confronted with the butt of the extinguisher at shoulder level.

The guest confronted Booth, who said ``it's alright bro'' before assuring the guest that he had merely wanted to ``thieve stuff in the room next door'' and had been trying the windows.

Booth was escorted down the stairs as two guests waited with him for police to arrive.

Judge Stephen Harrop told Booth  he was looking at a ``starting point of prison'' while
remanding him for sentence  in October.