Tsunami fund theft was 'a cry for help'

A single mother who stole $250 from a collection for the victims of the Asian tsunami had experienced "tsunamis in her own life", a judge said yesterday.

The Northland mother of four was appearing for sentencing at Kaitaia District Court after admitting a charge of theft at the Mad Butcher's store in Orewa on New Year's Eve, and three other unrelated shoplifting charges.

Judge Ajit Singh said the "exceptional circumstances" in the 34-year-old woman's case and a diagnosis of her trauma and a personal disorder meant publication of her name and details would be harmful and unhelpful to her rehabilitation.

The judge permanently suppressed the woman's identity and details of medical and psychiatric reports submitted during her sentencing.

"There is no excuse for taking other people's property but in the context of a cry for help, it has brought forward matters which need addressing," Judge Singh said.
"Traumas may have contributed to your offending. These were your cries for help."

The attention the defendant gained from the tsunami theft had attracted help and support for her from the Phobic Trust of New Zealand, the Maori Women's Welfare League and a social work support programme run by a Northland trust.

Judge Singh sentenced the woman to 180 hours of community work and two years probation service supervision for the tsunami fund theft.

She is to attend and complete psychological counselling, and undertake other treatment and programmes as directed.

The judge ordered her to pay $250 reparation to the Mad Butcher's store as arranged with the court registrar. On each of three charges of shoplifting, all committed in the months before the tsunami appeal theft, she was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within 12 months if called on to do so.

She is also required to make reparation in each case - to Liquor King in Kaitaia ($161), to Gilmours wholesalers in Manukau City ($540) and to Westgate Centre Pharmacy in Massey ($201).

The judge noted the woman still had 30 hours of community work outstanding from previous sentences although, according to the Probation Service, her community work attendance had improved.

The woman's counsel, Junior Witehera, suggested she could be engaged in productive work for the Phobic Trust of New Zealand as part of a community work sentence.

She was willing to pay reparations, although she did have four children, he said.

A social worker told the judge the woman could be supervised and monitored by the Probation Service in any work for the trust.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Mathew Tailby opposed the permanent suppression order, citing the serious nature of the woman's offending and her previous history of similar crimes.

The tsunami collection bucket theft had attracting a considerable amount of media attention and justice had to be seen to be done, Mr Tailby said.

Judge Singh said the Phobic Trust supported name suppression and it was clear the woman was getting treatment from that trust as well as counselling from other organisations.

Reports given to him raised a diagnosis of traumatic, stress and kleptomaniac disorders arising from a past history of sexual abuse and a recent traumatic personal tragedy.