Theft of $1750 from savings of elderly man

Press, 9 October 1982, Page 4

Theft of $1750 from savings of elderly man

A man who stole $1750 from a resident's room in a home for the elderly, which he subsequently spent on a three-day spree in Auckland, was sent to prison for six months by Judge Bradford in the District Court yesterday.

the Judge described Michael John Dixon, aged 23. a labourer (Mr P. B. McMenamin) as “an incorrigible thief." He said Dixon had 19 previous convictions for theft on 11 different occasions and had been dealt with in a variety of ways, including two prison terms. Dixon who. he said, had already paid $524 in compensation to the elderly complainant. was ordered to pay the balance.

He was also put on probation for 12 months.

Although credit was given to Dixon s effort in making part-payment of the compensation. the Judge said when the seriousness of the present offence was coupled with his record of dishonesty a custodial sentence was appropriate.

The Judge was told on an earlier occasion that Dixon had gone into a room at the home for the elderly and had opened a drawer with a key. The cash which he stole was in the drawer. Dixon had then taken a taxi to the airport from where he flew to Auckland. Dixon later told the police

that he had spent the money on eating, entertainment, clothing and taking girls out. Police inquiries revealed the $1750 had been saved by the elderly man for his rent and for a trip to Australia.

Mr McMenamin said that when his client went into the home it was not with the intention of stealing such a substantial amount of monev PERIODIC DETENTION’ A man earlier convicted of converting five vehicles, to a total value of $37,000, three charges of burglary, possessing instruments capable of being used to commit burglary, and one charge of intentionally damaging a lawn, was sentenced to periodic detention for eight months. Gregory Robert Clark, aged 19. an engineer's assistant (Mr H. D. P. van Schrevan) who admitted the 10 offences was told by the Judge that he had displayed an attitude of arrogance towards society. He' also warned that because vehicle conversion and intentional damage were becoming so common the time was approaching when the courts would have to consider custodial sentences for first offenders. Mr van Schrevan said that the reasons for his client's offending were still not dear.

He submitted that prior to the present offending the defendant's car was stolen and wrecked.