Periodic detention on burglary count

Press, 2 April 1985, Page 6

Periodic detention on burglary count

Because he saw a "glimmer of hope” for the defendant’s future, Judge Jamieson in the District Court yesterday imposed a sentence of six months nonresidential periodic detention, instead of a prison term, on Brent Allan Stevenson, aged 19, unemployed. The defendant was sentenced after having been found guilty by a jury at his trial last month of involvement with two other men in the burglary of the premises of Wakefield Metal ComnLtd, in Balfour Street ovember 12 last Defence counsel (Mr M. J B. Hobbs) submitted in mitigation of penalty that the defendant had been a party to, rather than a principal offender in, the burglary and had foolishly accompanied the other two after they had asked him. He had gone along with the request because he was under financial stress at the time, and hoped to gain some benefit from the burglary.

Mr Hobbs said the defendant was living in a stable de

facto relationship and this, and his role as a parent, had given his life a stability which had previously been lacking. He asked that this factor, and the defendant’s youth, be taken into account in sentencing, and said the defendant now deeply regretted his involvement in the burglary.

Mr D. J. L. Saunders, for the Crown, said one other offender in the burglary had been given nine months jail, followed by probation, and the other, six months periodic detention and restitution of $lOO. Damage of $3OO was caused to a door, in the burglary.

The Judge said the defendant had a shocking list of previous convictions, mostly involving dishonesty. However, he saw a glimmer of hope in that the defendant had entered into a de facto relationship and assumed responsibility for a child.

He would take a chance with the defendant in the hope that the sentence

would encourge him to keep out of trouble and help him to mature. The Judge said the sentence was not a “soft option" and that further offending would be met by a prison sentence. He said he hoped his faith in the defendant was not misplaced.