Shivam Dhingra: Crooked MLC Centre security guard appeals prison sentence
A former security guard who worked at a skyscraper in Sydney’s CBD misused his position to steal laptops from two law firms. He has now appeared back in court to appeal his prison sentence.
Blacktown
Don't miss out on the headlines from Blacktown. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A former security guard who stole 16 laptops from two leading law firms while working at a Sydney skyscraper has successfully appealed his prison sentence after a judge took into consideration his young age.
Shivam Dhingra, 22, from Blacktown, used his position working as a security guard at the 67-storey MLC Centre in Sydney’s CBD to steal computers when he was aged 20 and 21.
The offences happened nine months apart – in October 2018 and August 2019 – and saw him break into McCabe Curwood Lawyers on level 38 and Meridian Lawyers on level 17.
The court heard he reprogrammed access cards to access the offices and steal the laptops.
He also dressed up in dark clothing and wore a food delivery backpack as a disguise during the second offence.
Dhingra was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment in the Downing Centre Local Court in August for two charges of break and enter, which he pleaded guilty to.
He was also ordered to pay $41,000 in compensation to the law firms.
However, he appealed the severity of that sentence in the NSW District Court on Monday.
Judge John North took into consideration his young age, the fact he had not committed any further offences while on bail, and also accepted he had been assessed as a low risk of reoffending.
“What is really important here is his relative youth. He was only 20 at the time of his first offence,” he said.
“For a young man rehabilitation can do a great deal in offsetting the need for full-time custody.”
Judge North set aside his prison sentence and resentenced him to a term of imprisonment of 30 months to be served by way of intensive correction in the community.
Judge North also ordered he make compensation and follow the treatment plan from his psychologist.
The court heard Dhingra was trying to feed a cocaine, alcohol and cannabis addiction at the time of his offending but he was now receiving professional help from a psychologist.
Dhingra’s lawyer said his client had managed to locate three of the stolen laptops and had turned them into police and he had also found work with his cousin’s solar energy business after losing his security officer licence.
His lawyer said he had two cheques worth $5000 each to give to the two law firms and he would repay $250 per week to cover the remaining compensation.
The Crown prosecutor said Dhingra abused his trusted position and the cost to the law firms went well beyond the cost of the laptops themselves, as the computers contained private client information which was lost.
He claimed the sentence in the Local Court was appropriate and Dhingra should receive a custodial sentence.
Dhingra, originally from India, lives with his parents in Blacktown and is the sole provider for his parents, the court heard. His father supported him in court.