From riches to jail

Press, 7 May 1980, Page 15

From riches to jail

PA Wellington A Wellington man once rich enough to own a chauf-feur-driven Rolls-Royce has been imprisoned for stealing $9079 from a trustee company. Robert Prescott Hamilton Jensen, aged 62, was jailed for four months after he admitted stealing the money from the Perpetual Trustee Company, Ltd, by failing to account. He appeared before Judge Bate in the District Court. Jensen had been born in a poor family, but had made and lost a large fortune during his life, said counsel, Mr Ga Joseph. Twenty-five years ago Jensen and a woman companion 40 years his senior were being chauffeur-driven in a Rolls-Royce after making a

vast sum of money, including about $250,000 in one 10-year period. They set out on a plan to help less fortunate people by establishing college scholar-: ships, giving money and valuable paintings to Wellington city. Mr Joseph said. “Jensen gave away more than 10 times the amount he; is charged with stealing.” i The woman died five years ago and left an estate worth SI million, but-none of it went to Jensen. The $9079: was stolen from that estate, 1 Mr Joseph said. “Jensen looked on it as borrowing. He thought he had made at least a quarter of the estate, the woman had ignored him in her will and he was now desperate fori money. i “He simply succumbed toi temptation.”

;> Mr Joseph said Jensen was • a lonely man with failing .health . who would benefit 11 from an association with a ' probation counsellor. • : “He has never stolen a • penny in his life before and i it is sad that in the autumn iof his life, he finds himself : in this position. r Judge Bate sad he accepted ■ that Jensen had done a great ; deal of charitable work, but i there was no alternative to : imprisonment. h “You were in a position of ,■ trust and it is sad and extra- • ordinary to see a person such ; as yourself before the court,” ; he said. •1 The police last week said I that Jensen had been em- ' ployed by Perpetual Trustees j to collect rent from 12 board- : ing houses or flats in the dead I woman’s estate.