A woman who obtained stolen goods and accidentally sold the items back to their owner has escaped jail time.
Louise Surgenor, 23, appeared at Tauranga District Court on Wednesday facing a number of charges for obtaining and attempting to sell stolen goods.
The charges relate to around $5000 of stolen property.
Judge David Cameron described the incident as an unusual one.
'Once obtained, some of the items were then sold on TradeMe to their original owner.”
He says the owner had at the time already claimed insurance on the stolen items.
'It is a serious offence not only to obtain stolen goods, but to then sell them on as well.
'In this instance, you have managed to sell those goods on to the person whom they belong to.
'You say you were unaware at the time that was the owner of the goods and have indicated that you are very remorseful.
'After meeting and speaking with the owner you say they are a very nice person.”
He asked the woman to take into account the seriousness of her offending.
'This is a charge which usually results in people going to jail.”
He ordered she pay reparation costs of $500 directly to the owner to cover insurance excess costs and serve 60 hours community work.
8 comments
judge or social worker?
Posted on 11-01-2018 09:54 | By Captain Sensible
$500 and 60 hours service....wow, the criminal fraternity will be shaking with fear from such a tough judgement. If that won't put anyone off crime....nothing will!
That's a mighty
Posted on 11-01-2018 11:12 | By tish
small, wet bus ticket there, Judge.
crime
Posted on 11-01-2018 11:19 | By dumbkof2
and they say crime dosnt pay. says she was unaware of the owner of the goods. i say if she knew she would have sold them elsware. funny all very remorseful when they get caught.
Sad
Posted on 11-01-2018 12:48 | By rastus
How this or any other judge thinks these sorts of people are ever going to change their evil ways is a puzzle to me. All this 'if she had only known' rubbish - the bottom line is she deliberately stole someones property in order to gain an monetary advantage - and this conviction will not make a jot of difference to the way this person views the world in which most of us try to live in honestly!
Avr
Posted on 11-01-2018 13:30 | By Anton
Has anyone seen what it is community work? I did while doing voluntary work, They hardly do any.Having nice coffee breaks with biscuits,I did have to bring my own, They did have lunch fingerlicking good made on site, again I did have to bring or pay my own. Free transport to the job, I have to pay my own. It was absolute ridiculous and that for several days.
been okay
Posted on 11-01-2018 15:45 | By SML
been okay to sell to anyone else?!! The Justice system is a joke! She was asked to pay back $500 - of " around $5000 of stolen property."?? Where did the rest of the money go, and why should the insurance company have to carry the cost, of this thief's wrongdoing? How bizarre is this judgment?
Yet another smack on the wrist
Posted on 11-01-2018 15:48 | By Lvdw
and once again .... another example of how the justice system favours the 'remorseful' crims. yeah right they are.I agree with AVR, most comm service is just a joke, even when they turn up!I say make them to hard labour. That way they can think about their wrong doing!
Crime does not pay ???
Posted on 11-01-2018 23:28 | By The Caveman
Seems to me that that this little job paid $4,500 !!!!
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