Moments after the theft, Rarere accelerated past traffic and shoppers in the Pak'nSave Napier carpark, overtaking queued vehicles at its Station St exit, and hitting one vehicle and a divide at what the judge said was one of the busiest roundabouts in Hawke's Bay.
The hefty motorbike was thrown from the trailer, and repairs cost $16,800, the court was told.
Rarere's brother, 19-year-old Ihaka Rarere, was sentenced to two years for being involved in helping load the bike on to the trailer in front of shoppers who tried to intervene. He had admitted the charge two days before the hearing was held.
Another man had been found not guilty. He was present when the bike was taken but stayed in the vehicle, took no part in the offences and said he wanted nothing to do with what was happening.
Judge Adeane said the brothers were a "pair of idiots" who disregarded the safety and rights of others in circumstances which could have had much more serious offences.
Explanations that it happened under the influence of P was no excuse, and could not be used as any form of mitigating factor, Judge Adeane said.
