Thief jailed for stealing from uncle

A 45-year-old man who admitted entering his uncle’s home twice and stealing sunglasses was today jailed for 60 days.

Richard Michael Dill appeared in Magistrate's Court yesterday charged with entering a Long Bay Lane, Sandy’s home between October 17 and November 24, stealing a pair of sunglasses belonging to Antoine Simons.

Dill was also charged with entering the home with the intention to steal between November 25 and December 2.

He originally denied the charges but after hearing the facts, he pleaded guilty to both.

The court heard Mr Simons is Dill’s uncle who went on vacation during those dates and left the defendant’s mother in charge of his home.

During the first occasion, he returned home and found a pair of blue sunglasses missing. He suspected Dill had taken them and asked him about the missing glasses.

The court heard Dill admitted taking them.

On the second occasion, Mr Simons came home and found Dill in the house.

Addressing the court, Dill said he “borrowed” the sunglasses and had the intention of putting them back. He also said he went to the home to get food instead of stealing from a store.

Bur Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said: “If you think it’s better to steal food from your mother or anybody else rather than the shop, that is not a very lucid thought.

“It’s stealing.”

Today, Dill’s probation officer appeared and told the court he hadn’t been reporting.

But Dill said he tried to get into drug treatment but there was nothing available.

Mr Warner didn’t believe Dill’s excuse and said: “Your problem, Mr Dill is that you keep coming back to this court for the same foolishness over and over again because you have got a serious drug problem.

“Isn’t that so?”

Dill said: “Yes your honour”.

Mr Warner said drug treatment had been ordered for him but he never showed up.

Dill was sentenced to 60 days imprisonment followed by two years probation.

“When you get out, court services will take over and get you all the necessary treatment that is available. Then, it’s up to you to make yourself available for that.”