BANK CLERK’S THEFTS

Evening Star, Issue 25635, 8 November 1945, Page 4

BANK CLERK’S THEFTS

£3,000 INVOLVED REFORMATIVE DETENTION IMPOSED Rewi Clyde Steans, a bank clerk, who had pleaded! -guilty to 13 charged of theft as a servant, in the Magistrate’s Court at Alexandra, was sentenced in the Supreme Court to-day by Mr Justice Kennery to reformative detention for a period of two years and six months. For the prisoner, Mr F. M. Hanan said that he was 34 years of age, married, and with two young children. He had joined the staff of the bank at Christchurch in 1928; and his conduct then was exemplary. He took an active part in Y.M.C.A. affairs. In 1936 he became a relieving officer of the bank, and travelled through Otago and Southland, being obliged! to live in hotels, and it was suggested that perhaps at this period he became'subjected to those influences which dictated his later conduct. At the beginning of the war he enlisted, but was rejected on medical grounds. In May, 1943, he was posted to Alexandra, and later began to indulge in gambling. At this, unfortunately, he was successful for a start, but, losing, later on, he was unable to cover his liabilities. His wife was suffering from ill-health, and he succumbed to temptation. Oil exposure, he had done everything possible to clear up the whole matter. As far as possible he had realised on all his assets in an attempt to reim<burse the bank for his defalcations. . “ You have stolen various large sums of money over a considerable period, totalling over £3,000,” His Honour told the prisoner. “As late as October 1, 1945, you stole the sum of £345 16s 7d. You have resorted to fraud to carry over and conceal your defalcations.” He sentenced the prisoner tc reformative detention for two years and six months on each charge; the sentences to be concurrent.