A couple who pleaded guilty to stealing three geckos from Christchurch's Orana Wildlife Park say they just wanted a pet for their child - and now they are facing a jail sentence.
Nicholas Ormady, 21, and Sally Stirton, 30, were charged with two counts of theft and one of possessing absolutely protected wildlife after the geckos went missing early last month.
The pair stole the Geckos over two consecutive days by putting them in Stirton's handbag, going back the second time because they wanted them to mate.
Police recovered the Geckos two days later after initially fearing they had been stolen for overseas sale on the black market.
The pair admitted to charges of theft but say they did not realise the seriousness of their crime.
"We didn't actually know how protected the species were," says Stirton.
"We actually went to Orana Park with our kid and we didn't mean for any of this to happen, we're surprised that it's such a big issue," says Ormady.
Although the couple will likely have a restorative justice conference with the staff of Orana Park, Christchurch District Court's Judge Green has warned that they still could be jailed and has remanded the pair on bail for sentencing in June.
