Saucepan set thief avoids jail on compassionate grounds

A MAN who stole a $700, six-piece saucepan set from a kitchenware shop in Casuarina Square has narrowly avoided jail on compassionate grounds.

Cyril Laurence Murphy’s lawyer told the court he had now paid for the saucepans in full.

A MAN who stole a $700, six-piece saucepan set from a kitchenware shop in Casuarina Square has narrowly avoided jail on compassionate grounds.

Cyril Laurence Murphy pleaded guilty in the Darwin Local Court to one count of theft after putting the boxed items in his ­trolley and walking away without paying in October 2019.

His lawyer, James Stuchbery, told the court it had taken some time for police to complete their investigation but “eventually the game was up” when he was “caught red-handed” on CCTV.

Mr Stuchbery said Murphy had now paid for the saucepans in full and prison would be more onerous for him because he was undergoing regular treatment for bowel cancer.

In handing Murphy a 12-month good behaviour bond, judge Alan Woodcock said he would have sentenced him to jail if not for his illness and pleaded with him to “stop stealing”.

“It’s wrong, you’ll go to jail, stop doing it,” he said.

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“I was just about to give you a term of imprisonment but given you’re very crook, I’ll give you a bond – but you’ve got to stop it.”

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