On November I8 last year two men - one 24 and the other I8 - accompanied by three juveniles felt they were bored and needed something to bring a little entertainment into their lives.
They then broke into a property at Gwynville in Wollongong and used petrol to set fire to two cars in a carport attached to a house.
A Hyundai Excel, a Honda Civic and the carport were destroyed and other parts of the property were damaged. The juveniles managed to sustain burns that required hospital treatment, and as a result all these culprits were caught.
The two adult arsonists yesterday pleaded guilty - almost a year after this crime. It seems certain that the wheels of justice grind slowly but what excuse can the court system give for such an intolerable delay.
And then there is the " punishment " handed out !
The 24 year old was fined $ 1500 and placed on a a two year good behaviour bond. The I8 year old was ordered to perform 150 hours of community service.
These two adult criminals have spent the past year unpunished, wandering around free on bail. Arson is a major crime and their action caused considerable financial damage to the owners of the two cars - and the person owning the house that suffered damage.
The magistrate ignored any order of compensation for these losses. That $ 1500 fine will go straight into government coffers - and the community service may - or may not - be performed, but the " punishment " handed out was little more than a slap on the wrist.
What incentive does this sort of sentence give to persuade offenders to desist from criminally destructive behaviour ?
No wonder the courts are held in contempt by both criminals and the long suffering victims of crime !
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