Resthome staff member jailed over drug theft

A former Whangarei caregiver who helped armed men to steal drugs from the resthome where she worked has been sentenced to 18 months in jail.

Catherine Faustina Sampson, 44, appeared in the Whangarei District Court for sentencing yesterday. She had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary and another of stealing controlled drugs from the Oakhaven resthome on October 29 last year.

Judge Keith de Ridder gave her concurrent sentences of 18 months for burglary and 12 months for stealing class B drugs and granted her leave to apply for home detention.

Sampson was working at the resthome on the night of the burglary and helped armed men to gain entry. They then broke into a drug safe and stole controlled drugs, including morphine.

The defence claimed Sampson had not known the men and had been subjected to intimidation until she agreed to help them.

The Crown said she had played an integral role in the crime.

If Sampson had been intimidated, she could have called the police, the prosecution said. The offence had involved a serious breach of trust.

On the night of the burglary, keys were taken from the resthome and Sampson had suggested to another nurse that the routines be changed. A note calling off the plan the previous night was found and a jemmy, similar in size to the one used in the burglary, had been found at her address.

Sampson's lawyer told the court she had not gone to the police because of the fear she felt at the time. The jemmy was a wheel brace and was in her car for legitimate purposes.

Sampson had taken issue with the suggestion there had been a deliberate removal of keys and that routines had been changed to allow the men access.

Judge Ridder said he was satisfied there had been a degree of planning involved in the crime.

"If you were intimidated, there were options open to you. You were contacted two times by these people. You had ample opportunity to take action but, for whatever reason, you chose not to."

She had to be made accountable for her involvement and others needed to be deterred from similar crimes.

"Your role was assisting these people to enter the resthome and then giving them the opportunity to steal these drugs and as such that makes you a party to it.

"This is a resthome where people go for safety and security and your actions allowed these people to enter in the early morning. They were armed with bats and a firearm and if they were confronted by anyone the potential for harm was high.

"The only logical inference is that these drugs were destined for distribution in the community and that was the whole intention of this burglary: to obtain the drugs and then distribute them into the community for commercial gain."

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE