An Oamaru doctor infatuated with his intellectually-impaired patient has been sentenced to nine months’ home detention for molesting his victim across eight years. Stephen James Dawson, 60, appeared before Judge Joanna Maze in the Timaru District Court on Thursday, having pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting a female over the age of 16 and doing an indecent act to a person of significant impairment. Judge Maze said from 2008 to 2016, Dawson breached the trust of the complainant by touching her breasts and hips, filming her topless, taking pictures of her wearing a new bra he bought her, and approaching her mother seeking permission to have sex with her. “The offending has been confined to this one victim,” Judge Maze said. “It seems clear you formed an infatuation with this victim.” Crown prosecutor Helen Bennett said the defendant, who worked as a general practitioner in Oamaru for 33 years, was aware his 46-year-old victim could not consent to sexual contact due to a mental age of 12-15. Dawson was convicted and sentenced to nine months’ home detention, and given his first strike under the three-strikes law.
August 17, 2018
On the surface, Dorothy Winifred Pearson was a dutiful citizen, helping her elderly neighbour with her groceries. But the 57-year-old South Dunedin resident was not what she seemed. As soon as Pearson discovered the PIN for the woman’s eftpos card, she “mercilessly” ripped her off, bleeding the victim’s accounts of more than $7000 over 10 months. When the woman, who suffers from mild dementia, discovered the funds were missing, she ended up at the police station watching footage of someone making a withdrawal from her account. She recognised the swindler immediately. “I don’t swear but I said, for the first time ever ‘that’s the bitch, Dorothy Pearson, and she lives right across the street from me’,” the victim said. The rare expletive “eased the pain” at the time, the committed churchgoer said. Pearson appeared in the Dunedin District Court this week after pleading guilty to 10 counts of using a document for a pecuniary advantage. The defendant, who had been a caregiver for 20 years before losing her job recently, had a clean criminal record and argued she should not be photographed in court because she was not a threat to the community. Judge Philip Connell, though, said the offending was significant and potential future employers should be forewarned about the woman’s ability to commit such fraud.
August 17, 2018
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT – Small Business Fair Dismissal Code – misconduct – ss.388, 394 Fair Work Act 2009 – application for unfair dismissal remedy – applicant summarily dismissed – allegations of serious misconduct including sexual misconduct, riotous behaviour and claims of misappropriation of money by respondent – respondent was small business – Small Business Fair Dismissal Code (Code) considered – Commission satisfied that conduct amounted to serious conduct as defined in Reg. 1.07 – satisfied respondent held reasonable belief that applicant’s conduct was sufficiently serious to justify dismissal (except in relation to allegations of sexual misconduct) – Code complied with – application dismissed.Abou-Eid v The Islamic Society of Victoria Inc.
August 16, 2018
There are fears for an elderly man who has gone missing from an aged care facility. Richard Huxley, 68, was last seen at 6.30am this morning (August 16) at the facility in Botany. A police spokesman said there are serious concerns for his welfare due to several medical conditions he has. He added he may appear confused or disoriented.
August 16, 2018
HammondCare has been served with a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) to be heard before Fair Work Commissioner Cambridge in Hearing Room 12-1 – Level 12 in Sydney (Taylor).
August 16, 2018
Southern Cross Care said it has cut 128 hours from its roster at Assumption Villa in Leeton.
August 16, 2018
Ambulance Victoria is set to defend a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) in front of Fair Work Commissioner Harper-Greenwell in his Melbourne chambers (Singh).
August 16, 2018
Former Labor federal health minister Nicola Roxon is a busy public company body. At retirement village operator Lifestyle Communities, she has been paid $66,717 since her September 1 appointment.
