ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — A Newfoundland man who has become known as the "birthday card bandit" was handed a suspended sentence and a year of probation in a St. John's court today for stealing cards from a six-year-old boy's party.
Thirty-nine-year-old Dustin Crocker pleaded guilty to theft under $5,000 last week.
Court heard that Crocker, who suffers from serious medical issues, was in a state of confusion when he took the stack of cards from the birthday party in Mount Pearl four months ago.
He has apologized to the child and given him $250 for restitution of the gifts.
The Crown had proposed a sentence of 30 days incarceration, but Judge Mark Linehan said Crocker and his family have already been publicly scorned, so further denunciation was not warranted.
The boy's mother said after sentencing that she is happy the case is over so both families can begin to put their lives back together.
She said she didn't believe Crocker deserved jail time, adding that everyone makes bad decisions and Crocker has apologized.
