Clerk sentenced

Press, 23 September 1983, Page 7

Clerk sentenced

One hundred and fifty hours of community service was ordered to be carried out by an office clerk, aged 28, when she appeared for sentence before Judge Pain in the District Court yesterday on two charges of stealing a total of $2307 from her employer.

The Judge told Judith Faye Anne McCall that she was to pay compensation in full as directed by the probation officer.

She was also put on probation for 18 months.

McCall (Mrs J. Rotherham) was earlier convicted of stealing $2050, the property of the G. L. Bowron employee’s credit union, and $257, the property of the company.

The offences took place between May 27 and August 10 and occurred when the defendant was keeping the books of the credit union and making payments to members. McCall had without authority made out four cheques, totalling $2050, which she deposited into her personal cheque account., She also admitted stealing $257 which should have been

placed into a wages ’‘float.”

All the money was used to pay bills. The Judge in sentencing the defendant said he accepted that the offences had not been committed for personal greed but to pay pressing accounts. It was apparent that McCall had grossly overcommitted herself but that with the proceeds of the sale of the matrimonial property she should be able to

pay compensation and clear her debts.

Since the break-up of her marriage McCall had been in “a highly confused” state, Mrs Rotherham said. It was while under financial and personal pressures that the offences took place.

Her client, a first offender, went voluntarily to the police about the thefts. She was now receiving counselling, said Mrs Rotherham.