Computer Theft `for Drugs'

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday March 6, 2004

By MEGAN LEVY

A 19-YEAR-OLD man broke into Wollongong Hospital and stole computer equipment used to diagnose terminally ill patients, Wollongong District Court heard yesterday.

Justin Maxwell Bennis had then sold the computer - worth more than $13,000 - to someone on the street for just $300 to feed his drug habit.

Bennis pleaded guilty in Wollongong Local Court last year to two counts of breaking, entering and stealing on September 28.

The second charge related to a home invasion on the same day, when he stole more than $2000 worth of goods from a Figtree house.

Bennis appeared in Wollongong District Court yesterday before Judge Joe Phelan, who heard submissions from the prosecutor and defence counsel before Bennis' sentence next week.

The court heard that Bennis had been on the amphetamine known as ``ice" when he broke into the hospital and took a hard drive and flat screen monitor worth $13,854.

The hospital's department of nuclear medicine had used the computer to diagnose terminally ill patients, and diagnoses had been delayed because of the theft.

``He saw it as being something of value and easy to take, and he thought he would be able to sell it. It was a computer hard drive box, similar to a personal computer and screen monitor," defence counsel Scott Fraser said.

Director of Public Prosecutions solicitor Michael Stollery told the court the cost of the theft was significant, both financially and in terms of its impact on Illawarra patients.

``This piece of equipment was essential to the diagnosis of the patients. The value of the property is considerable," he said.

Bennis had also pleaded guilty to breaking into a Figtree home, where he stole a DVD player, binoculars, a television, stereo system, video cassette recorder, a discman, tools, a watch and a guitar.

Mr Fraser said Bennis, of Newcombe St, Lindsay Heights, had been in custody since late last year and was no longer using drugs.

He said the offences were serious in nature, but Bennis had changed his attitude and wanted to check into rehabilitation.

Judge Phelan will sentence Bennis on Thursday.

© 2004 Illawarra Mercury

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