Studio’s giving fills seasonal hampers
‘Malicious’ stalking chef given jail sentence, compensation order
fitness fanatics have answered the call to provide a little festive cheer for families with nowhere to go at Christmas.
Studio A Health and Fitness Cairns raised more than $2000 to create hampers for homeless families supported by Shelter Housing Action Cairns.
SHAC executive officer Sally Watson said for the second year in a row, Studio A raised funds for 19 hampers for each of the organisation’s families in crisis accommodation.
“The result was astounding, and it is extremely heartening that Studio A have again this Christmas committed to raising funds for Christmas hampers for another 19 families in crisis housed with SHAC,” she said.
“Christmas is a particularly difficult time for families in crisis accommodation and it is so good to see our business community lending a hand in our quest to support people in their time of need.
“There are more than 2000 families on the social housing wait list in Cairns – more than 75 per cent of whom are in critical need.
“We are just so grateful to the team at Studio A for committing to the supply of hampers for families in crisis yet again.
“The hampers have been assembled to suit each particular family with homewares, food and stockings for kids,” she said.
WEIPA chef Pratham Dhingra stalked his ex-partner to the point of near suicide and had revenge shirts custom-made, a court has heard.
Dhingra, now 32, had the shirt posted to the woman’s adCAIRNS dress in 2016. The T-shirt was printed with her photo and the text ‘Who cares about others? Why care about others? I am always right’.
Cairns District Court yesterday heard Dhingra acted in a meth “spiral” when he began to stalk the woman in 2016 over a $3200 debt – which he had maliciously planned.
“You were the catalyst in giving information to an employer suggesting she had stolen from the business,” Judge Dean Morzone said. “She was beholden to you when you gave her financial support.”
Thus began months of harassment over the unpaid debt.
Dhingra used eight different phone numbers and 17 phony email accounts to call the woman daily.
In one 24-hour period in June 2016, he called 70 times and sent 23 messages.
Dhingra sent a total of 392 text messages and made 69 unanswered calls – but when police confiscated his phone as evidence he remotely wiped the data to avoid detection.
Despite two police interviews, Dhingra kept at it, driving the woman to the point where she threatened suicide.
Judge Morzone sentenced Dhingra, who has spent seven months in custody, to two years and nine months in jail.
The term has been suspended for five years and Dhingra was ordered to pay $2000 in compensation.