Housewife stole ring from friend

Press, 25 February 1978, Page 7

Housewife stole ring from friend

A housewife who stole a ring, said to be worth $lOOO, from a triend and neighbour, threw it over a fence into' long grass and it was unlikely to be recovered. Mr Justice Somers was told in tne Supreme Court. Kathleen Vick; Hugh, aged! 21, was ordered t<> come up for sentence within two! years if called upon on a charge of burglar;, to which; she pleaded guilty. No order; was made for estitution. Mr D. Maze, for Hugh,: said that she and the com-, plainant had been friends! and neighbours for some! time and visited each other’s, homes regularly. On the day! of the offence the woman' was visiting Hugh when the latter noticed that she was, not wearing the ring. The complainant lived in; rather unusual conditions n a house with a broken window and no electricity, and! she had said the ring was, very valuable. It was a case ot tempta-: tion being put in Hugh’s; wav. She went to the house; and stole the ring. When seen by the police, she, admitted the offence and then .tried to cover it up ’>e-| cause she did not want to! lose al! she had achieved in: the last three years. Although Hugh had a

number of convictions for dishonesty she had not offended for some time. This ' was an isolated lapse, submitted Mr Maze. She had overcome a problem with alcohol and was married with three young children. The ring had been said to Ibe worth $lOOO but that had never been proved. An older ; for restitution was not appropriate because the complainant could bring a civil ■ action. Hugh had said she had thrown the ring over a ; fence and it had been lost in .the long grass. For the Crown, Mr N. W. Williamson said that Hugh had given ,hree different I versions of what had hap- ' pened to the ring, but whatever one was true there ! seemed no possibility of its being recovered. An order ; for restitution was not ; sought. His Honour said that I Hugh had been before the ! courts before but she had admitted the offence and had | been oui of trouble for some ; time. Her children, whose jages ranged from eight I months to three years, .needed her care and so a custodial sentence would not be imposed. If Hugh offended again :sh would be brought before , the Court on the charge and sentenced, his Honour said.