Youth jailed for 2 years

Press, 15 August 1978, Page 4

Youth jailed for 2 years

A youth, who committed burglaries to get his own back on his father who did not recognise his existence. was jailed for two years by Mr Justice Roper in the Supreme Court yesterday. Donald John Fox, aged 20. unemployed. ' as appearing for sentence on seven charges of burgle , two of unlawfully taking motor vehicles and one of theft. He had pleaded guilty to the; charges in the Magistrate's Court and had been committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Mr T. M. Abbott appeared for Fox and Mr N. W. Williamson for the Crown. The police statement of facts said that Fox com [ mitted a spate of offences ’ after he unlawfully took a van valued at $3OOO belonging to Atlas Appliances, l td. from Welles Street on Mav 24. Fox broke into the premises of O'Melley Transport Company, Ltd, at Ranfurly ,by forcing a window. He [used a coal barrow to re-, move the safe containing $7O, wage books and company 1 papers. The safe was later found damaged beyond repair in the bed of the Waimakariri River at McLean's Island. The same night Fox went to a garage in Naseby and stole sheepskin rugs, cash and other items valued at $152. On June 1, Fox broke into a flat in Andover Street and stole goods worth $965, [ some of which were sold to second-hand dealers. About a week later he broke a window in another | flat in Andover Street and ( stole jewellery, 211 long- < playing records, a radio, overnight bags and cosmetics ] [worth $2829. When he attempted to sell the records j to a dealer, the man told ■ him that he was going to , [telephone the police. Fox I; [made off and left the records:, i behind a fence. I. [ After taking a car which ' [had the keys left in it in s

Merivale Lane, Fox replaced the registration plates. Thi some day. June 18. he broke into a bach at Diamond Har hour and stole articles worth $764. He also broke into two baches at Church Bay, and stole goods worth $256 from a car port in Stoneyhurst Street. Fox stole goods worth $5487 during the series of offences and $3055 worth was recovered. Mr Abbott said that Font could almost be considered as a compulsive offender. Many of the offences were repeats of ones he had committed before and they arose from his relati mship with his father who treated Fox as if he did not exist. When asked how many children he had Fox's father always said “four." which did not include the prisoner. Fox showed no sign of settling down or getting a job. A member of the C. 1.8. had tried to get Fox a job but he had refu-ed the help, lie had made a full admission to the police and pointed out where the safe could be found, Mr Abbott said. Mr Abbott said that Fox ’had revealed all he knew (bout the locality of the stolen property. Fox realised i hat unless he broke away ! from criminal activity he faced longer and longer [terms of imprisonment. The psychiatrist’s report said that Fox had become’ [less brazen, brash and proud of his lifestyle during the [ last year. From the dock Fox said that he wanted to serve his [sentence in Paremoremo as things worked out better for him up there and he wanted to settle down and do schoolwork. “Fox, at the age of 20 you have got as bad a record as I have ever seen,” said his Honour. "You have spent very little time out of cus« tody in the last three years and these present burglaries were committed within about two weeks after you were released from the last sentence.”