Man jailed for Autobank thefts

Press, 13 June 1984, Page 4

Man jailed for Autobank thefts

The man who fraudulently obtained $13,980 from three Autobank machines in Christchurch last month was sent to prison for nine months by Judge Hattaway when he appeared for sentence in the District Court yesterday. Clive Neil McClure, aged 21, unemployed (Mr H. C. Matthews), had earlier been convicted of using a stolen bank auto access card to withdraw this amount on May 13. He had been charged that with intent to defraud he used the access card on various occasions to obtain a financial advantage for himself, or others. Mr Matthews said McClure’s offending was

largely because of bls drug addiction.

“Once he found he could obtain more than $2OO with the card, he kept on using it because he was heavily in debt to a number of people for drugs,” said Mr Matthews.

It was quite by accident that his client was able to defraud the bank. It was not due to cleverness on his part, but a malfunctioning of the machines, otherwise he would have been able to obtain only $2OO, he said.

The Judge suggested the defendant, who had a record of dishonesty, took whatever was available at the time. Imprisonment was inevit-

able for such offending, he said.

In addition to prison McClure was put on probation for 18 months. At the earlier hearing the police prosecutor said McClure had used the access card on 140 occasions to obtain $13,980 from Autobank machines in Riccarton, Armagh Street, and Hereford Street. When apprehended McClure told the police he had used the cash to pay for parts for a car, alcohol, accommodation and a trip to Queenstown. He also said he lost $lOOO gambling. The Judge made no comment regarding the $12,180 sought in compensation on behalf of the Bank of New Zealand which would have to stand the loss. A total of $lBOO in $lO notes was all that was recovered when the police searched McClure’s address. In addition to the Autobank fraud, McClure was also appearing for sentence on a charge of stealing $BO from a hotel, and two drug offences.