Gambling addiction led to $31,000 theft, jail

Press, 14 May 1987, Page 4

Gambling addiction led to $31,000 theft, jail

A former bank manager was sent to prison for six months for stealing $31,718 from his employer over a period of 16 months.

Compensation in full of this amount had already been paid by Ross Maurice Turner to Trustbank Canterbury, counsel (Ms Patricia Costigan) told Judge Frampton in the District Court yesterday. Turner, aged 35, had admitted 14 charges of stealing sums from dormant customer accounts, and eight charges of forging personal loan applications, between November, 1985, and earlier this year. Turner’s addiction to gambling led to the offending, said Ms Costigan. He became so affected by it that he was unable to behave rationally.

It was unfortunate that her client was unable to discuss his gambling problem with anyone.

It had come as a “devastating” shock to his wife, she said.

In seeking a non-custo-dial sentence Ms Costigan

said her client’s 19-year banking career was at an end, and that his marriage relationship was in a fragile state.

The defendant was now receiving support from Gamblers Anonymous, she said.

The Judge said he agreed that the consequences of such offending often had a tragic effect on the family of a defendant which could frequently outweigh the severity of any penalty the Court might impose. It was unfortunate that Turner had been unable to discuss his gambling problem with his wife or anyone else, he said. RAPE CHARGE Bail was refused for a man, aged 32, charged with raping his daughter, aged five, on various dates between July, last year, and this month. On the application of Sergeant John Dwyer interim suppression of the name of the defendant was granted for the sake of the family. The defendant, a beneficiary (Mr Richard Peters), was remanded in

custody to May 20. . DEPOSITIONS A company director facing 26 charges of fraud, involving , $7600, was remanded at large to July 28 for the taking of depositions. The defendant, represented by Mr B. J. Drake, faces 23 charges of falsifying purchase orders, and three of theft, while employed by a particular firm.

Police say the offeriding took place during 1983 and 1984.

PERIODIC DETENTION Periodic detention for three months was imposed on a sickness beneficiary convicted of stealing a $5O starting pistol, and possessing 5g of cannabis.

Donna Foster, aged 19 (Mrs Joan Rotherham), admitted, the offences which occurred last month.

Sergeant Gordon Moore said Foster stole the starting pistol from a sleeping passenger while on the Southerner travelling to Timaru.

When police visited the defendant’s address 5g of

cannabis, and the starting pistol, were found in her bag. Mrs Rotherham said Foster was under the influence of drugs when she stole the pistol and as a result her instructions had been vague. The drug was for her own use, she said. ROBBERY CHARGE

Bail was still opposed for a man charged, with others, of robbing Brent Robert White of a leather jacket, valued at $340, and $2OO in cash, on April 14.

Barry Keri Gray, aged 20, a solo father (Mrs Joan Rotherham), was remanded, in custody, to July 16 for the taking of depositions. Mrs Rotherham said her client strenuously denied the offence. INDECENCY CHARGE On a charge of indecently assaulting a boy, aged four, Stephen Noel Worthing was remanded in custody until tomorrow. Worthing, aged 20, a sickness beneficiary, is alleged to have committed the offence last weekend.