QLD: Homeless man fined over backyard paw paw theft

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-2003
QLD: Homeless man fined over backyard paw paw theft

By Ainsley Pavey

BRISBANE, Dec 31 AAP - A homeless man was today fined $25 after taking a paw paw which
had fallen from a tree in a Brisbane backyard.

Brisbane magistrate Margaret Tynan convicted Jaya Dev Orwin after police cornered the
starving disability pensioner as he ate the last pieces of the fruit yesterday.

The 26-year-old, who suffers Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and dyslexia,
emerged barefoot from the watchhouse after his brief court appearance.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of being found unlawfully in a yard at Appleby Road,
Stafford Heights, on Brisbane's northside.

Outside the court, Orwin said that before his arrest he had slept overnight in a nearby
park after walking more than 15km from the city.

He said he had no money after unsuccessful efforts to get an advanced dole payment
from Centrelink.

"I have been really hungry before and you go a bit scattered," said Orwin, a vegetarian.

"I have been so hungry I have felt like stabbing someone.

"Everyone has got to eat because you can't walk around with nothing in your guts.

"The paw paw really fixed me up and they weren't even ripe."

Magistrate Tynan warned Orwin against the dangers of trespassing and told him if he
was homeless and hungry to seek out support services.

"Don't put yourself in danger or a situation where you are going to be arrested," she said.

But Orwin said support services for the homeless in Brisbane were lacking.

Police arrested Orwin after a neighbour contacted them.

He was found with "remnants" of the paw paw around his mouth.

Defence lawyer David Kolbe said Orwin lived on $420 a fortnight because of his long-standing
learning difficulties.

AAP ap/jhm/tma/de

KEYWORD: ORWIN

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