COUNTY CLERK’S THEFT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 115, 28 February 1950, Page 4

COUNTY CLERK’S THEFT

TERM OF IMPRISONMENT (P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Feb. 27. Eric Russel Hopwood, who pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court to the theft of £552 15s 2d from the Lake County Council while employed by that- body as county clerk, Avas sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment with hard labour Avhen he appeared before Mr Justice Kennedy in the Supreme Court at Invercargill to-day. The money was stolen betAveen February 2, 1947, and November 8, 1949. Mr W. H. Tustin, Avho represented HopAvood, said that shortage of staff had made Hopwood’s duties particularly onerous and he had been forced to undertake work that would normally have fallen into the province of a county engineer. He handled the engineering Avork for the county at a time when a disastrous flood at Queenstown caused damage amounting to £20,000. He placed duties connected Avith flood compensation first and neglected to make regular bankings of county finance. The result Avas that he mixed county money with hi s OAvn and the Gqvernment auditor found that more than £SOO Avas, missing. Hopwood had done everything possible to correct tjie position.

Counsel referred to the probation officer’s report,., which, he claimed, credited Hopwood Avith a good background. The accused had volunteered his services and organised many community projects. “Hopwood is a man of fine tastes and an asset to any community; he has made full restitution of the money stolen,” Mr Tustin added.

•“You were a county clerk and it is only too true that over a period of t'hree years you regularly and systematically stole from your employers,” said his Honour. “It may be true that you haA r e performed certain services for the community but I am here only concerned with your dishonesty. This is not a case of muddle and mistake through ovenvork; it is outright stealing.”