How to make Denis realize that he made mistake?

In this case, it seems that both Denis and the magistrate are having difficulty communicating. Denis admits to do wrong because it's merely something eveyone does.... he doesn't see it as a crime, nor does he see it as wrong.... it's merely the norm. When he answers the magistrates questions, Denis responses are simple. His act wasn't meant to hurt anyone, and he intended to replace the bolt he'd "borrowed". His intension wasn't to vandalize the railway, it was to provide himself with a weight to fish. To the magistrate, however, the simple answers make him feel as if Denis isn't taking the charge seriously, almost as if he's making fun of authority. On the whole, I believe if the magistrate had taken the time to explain the charges, as well as the danger, Denis might have come to understand. Unfortunately, neither character communicated thoroughly or properly in light of the situation.