Foreman stole wool from his employer

Press, 17 December 1980, Page 4

Foreman stole wool from his employer

A former shift foreman convicted of stealing raw wool, valued at $2512, from his employer, was fined $750 when he appeared for sentence before Judge Palmer in the District Court yesterday. The Judge told Hugh John Pavletich, aged 29, that his offending represented a sustained act of disloyalty to the employer concerned. He said there had been a measure of disaffection between the defendant and his employer because of a reduced working week and the consequent loss of weekly income. This, said the Judge, did not justify the offence although it did tend to explain it The fine to reflect the gravity of the offence, would be substantial. In addition Pavletich was ordered to pay compensation of $1256. Pavletich had earlier admitted taking the raw wool between September 1 and November 10. At the time the police prosecutor had told the Court that another employee and the defendant had decided to steal the wool which would then be sold by the associate’s de facto wife. Counsel (Mr G. T. Mahon) said the offending had only begun after a proposition was put to his client by the associate. • The proposal had been made at a time when the defendant was reacting to an unhappy situation due to imposed reduction in his weekly working hours.

For his offending Pavletich had only received $4OO. Mr Mahon said the defendant had already lodged sufficient funds in his trust account to cover the compensation sought. DEFERRED SENTENCE A man, aged 69, convicted of burgling seven premises from where almost $5OO worth of women’s footwear was removed, was given a deferred sentence of 18 months. In addition the defendant, who was granted final suppression of his name, was put on probation for 18 months during which time he is to undertake such medical treatment or psy-cho-therapeutic counselling as directed. The Judge said that the offences, which were admitted, were “quite bizarre” in that the defendant had used a large number of house keys in his possession to unlock and relock the premises he entered and only items of women’s footwear were taken. ROBBERY CHARGE , ; Bail was opposed-, by Sen-ior-Sergeant M. W. Wright for two men who appeared on a joint charge of robbery.. They are Gary I William McQuillan, aged 26, a painter, and Stephen Barry Gordon, aged 22, a barmani y It is alleged that together they robbed Murray -James Ward of $2l in cash, one pair of trousers, and one pair of underpants. ’ - The alleged offence is said to have taken place on or about November 29. No pleas were entered. McQuillan (Mr G. F. French) and Gordon (Mr M. J. Knowles) were each remanded to February 16 for the taking of depositions. Each defendant was allowed bail of $lOOO, gether with a surety of the same amount. They were also ordered to report to the police three times weekly. TRAFFIC CHARGE Trevor Dyson, aged 23, unemployed, was remanded on bail to December 23 oh an excess blood-alcohOl charge involving death. alleged that Dyson, while intoxicated, was in charge of a motor-vehicle and by an act or omission caused the death Peter Moore at Weedons on August 30. No plea was entered. .