A teenager who stole international rugby jerseys from former All Black Leon MacDonald has told a court he is sick of having to watch his back in prison.

Blake Pelham, 17, was sentenced to imprisonment at the Blenheim District Court on Monday, despite telling the judge he was sick of being "stood over" by other prison inmates.

He addressed Judge Richard Russell directly before he was sentenced, telling him he had done courses and had been working to improve himself since he was remanded in custody in December.

Pelham told the judge he had apologised to his family for what he had done and was ready to "make a good go" of the sentence imposed on him.

The theft of the international, Super Rugby and training jerseys was one of the burglaries Pelham committed late last year in order to buy drugs and alcohol.

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He went into MacDonald's garage on December 21 with a friend and took a sports bag holding All Blacks jerseys, as well as others from Portugal, Italy, Scotland and France.

There were also Crusaders jerseys, and training jerseys for the Crusaders and the All Blacks.

Some of the jerseys were recovered after being thrown into some bushes but others remained missing.

Pelham was yesterday sentenced on 15 charges, including burglary, theft, robbery, wilful damage and breaching his bail.

The court previously heard that Pelham targeted houses and cars in Blenheim, Picton, the West Coast and Christchurch, looking for money and tradeable items, and often took keys so he could return to different properties and cars.

During the spate of offending in December he stole two cars, two roadbikes, a GPS, an Apple charger and headphones, guitar case and guitar, leather strap and accessories, boltcutters, clothes, tobacco, keys and remotes.

The judge had seen victim impact statements from some of the victims, who were all "gutted" about the offending, which seriously violated their right to feel safe in their own home.

"You created carnage for a number of victims just prior to their Christmas break . . . they have lost property, and that property meant nothing for you but was valuable to them," the judge said.

Much of Pelham's offending was committed while he was on bail for other offending, and the fact that he was under the influence of drugs was no justification for it, the judge said.

Pelham was sentenced to two years and three months in prison, and was ordered to pay $2200 in reparation for his offending.