Theft of $36,000 ordered repaid

Press, 19 December 1986, Page 7

Theft of $36,000 ordered repaid

PA Auckland A woman who lost in gambling more than $36,000 she had stolen as a bank employee; has been ordered to repay the money.

The woman, Christine Helen Dykes, age 19, of Pakuranga, who stole the money while working as a teller for the Westpac bank, appeared in the District Court at Auckland for sentence.

She pleaded guilty recently to stealing $36,416 in cash and cheques during a 10-month period.

Defence counsel (Mr Gary Gotlieb) said Dykes, who wanted to repay the bank, had cashed all her assets and had $4OOO for immediate repayment. He said Dykes, now unemployed, was prepared

to repay $5O a week from her benefit.

Judge Wallace accepted this submission and ordered Dykes to pay the $4OOO immediately and then refund the balance at $2OO a month.

In ordering the full repayment, the judge rejected a probation recommendation that Dykes pay back only half the $36,000. The Judge said it seemed wrong that person who legitimately borrowed such a sum of money had to pay it back, but that someone who stole it had to pay back part back only of it.

“There seems no reason why this young woman should not pay back all the money stolen from the bank, even though it may take her some years to do

it.” In addition she sentenced Dykes to 10 months’ periodic detention, saying she was fortunate not to be going to prison. "If it were not for the Criminal Justice Act (which directs judges not to send people convicted on property offences to prison) she would have gone to jail.” The Judge said it was unbelievable that Dykes had nothing to show for the $36,000. ‘She had to accept the probation report that Dykes had gambled all the money on horses. Mr Gotlieb said that Dykes, who suffered from a personality disorder, was responding to treatment.