Woman’s attacker jailed

Judge scathing over man’s ‘dreadful’ record of almost 50 convictions

A PAPUA New Guinean man with a “dreadful” criminal history has received a 3½-year prison sentence for stealing an elderly Cairns woman’s handbag.

Henry Pagerie Charlie, 41, was sentenced in the District Court for the burglary and assault of 81-year-old Mary Stewart at her Mooroobool home in September last year.

Charlie had finished a parole period for similar offences only a few months earlier when he climbed through a window of Ms Stewart’s home about 10.30pm and took a handbag from her bedroom.

During a physical struggle between the pair, which spilled into the lounge room, Ms Stewart was knocked to the floor before Charlie fled with about $50 cash and a several bank cards.

He was tracked by police using CCTV footage days later after a failed attempt to buy cigarettes at a nearby petrol station using one of the stolen cards.

Ms Stewart has since passed away and was unable to provide the court with a victim impact statement.

Defence barrister Stephanie Williams said Charlie was “coming down” from a methamphetamine high when he committed the offence, and that his extensive criminal history stemmed from alcohol addiction.

“He gets on the grog and then he either wants to continue partying on or purchase more alcohol, and what results is opportunistic property offending,” she said.

“Even though Mr Charlie gets drunk and goes looking for money, he never enters anybody’s property with the thought of committing an act of violence or attacking them.”

The court heard Charlie, who was only schooled until Grade 7, had struggled to cope with the discovery as a 12-yearold that he was an adopted son among 11 siblings.

He has now reconnected with his biological father, who was present during his sentencing yesterday.

Judge Dean Morzone was scathing of Charlie’s criminal history, which included about 49 convictions for break and enter and dozens of other stealing and assault-related offences.

Charlie has also breached bail, parole and community services requirements on several occasions since the mid-1980s.

“Clearly enough you have no respect for the law or the authority of the court in providing a sentence which was ultimately in your interest to put your life back on track,” Judge Morzone said.

The father of one received a 3½-year prison sentence and will be eligible for parole after serving one third of that period.

Given Charlie has been in custody for just over one year, he could be released on November 17.