Aspies For Freedom

Man diagnosed with disorder

• Judge hails ‘major step forward’

Court Reporter

A man who admitted stealing other people’s mail and opening it had been diagnosed as having Asperger’s disorder, the Dunedin District Court heard yesterday.
   That was a major step forward as there had been no diagnosis as to what was causing the offending by William Daniel Caswell (51), unemployed, Judge Peter McAloon, of Blenheim, said.
   Support would now be available to him.
   In custody about the past three months, Caswell was for sentence convicted of burgling houses in Carson St, David St, Dacre St, Brunel St, Mitchell Ave, Byron St and Eglington Rd, between May 1 last year and February 14 this year; and opening a postal article not addressed to him, between February 14 last year and February 13 this year.
   He was placed under 18 months supervision, ordered to pay $220 reparation, and “finally warned”.
   Supervision conditions are to undergo psychological counselling and budget advice; and attend any other counselling, treatment or training, as directed.
   The summary of facts said police searching Caswell’s address in relation to the burglary of a house in Mitchell Ave, noticed he was living in unsanitary conditions and had a large amount of property that did not belong to him.
   The property included more than 70 letters addressed to people in Mornington, Caversham and Green Island. There was also jewellery and a large number of photograph albums and books.
   The bundles of mail revealed envelopes containing concert tickets, hospital appointment cards, bank statements, Christmas cards, postcards and letters, and cheques valued at more than $25,000.
   Caswell admitted stealing mail from people’s letter boxes and opening it to look at and read. He also admitted the house burglaries.
   Counsel Helgi Henderson submitted Caswell was now diagnosed as having Asperger’s disorder. An extremely comprehensive psychiatric report made sad reading, he said. Caswell did not take items for gain. Rather, he took them as he felt a need to be connected to family of some type.
   Judge McAloon said psychiatrists described the offending as an example of social isolation and loneliness.
   However, to indicate to Caswell the effect of his offending, the judge read to him a statement from one of the victims.
   In response, Caswell apologised. He felt for the victims, he said from the dock.
   Footnote: Asperger’s Syndrome is a developmental disorder related to Autism, affecting social, communication and other skills.

Sounds more like he was an obsessive collector to me, than wanted to feel part of a family.
The family bit sounds like the type of thing that people say to get a lighter sentence.

Took the words right out of my mouth =3

Has anyone been keeping a count of how many people are claiming Aspergers to get lesser sentences? - It seems to me the rate is increasing with awareness (With a corresponding corelation with people thinking Aspergers is an invented condition to excuse bunghole behaviour)

you know, that just offends autistic people who don't use their state of mind as an excuse and are fully accountable to their mistakes.

i have never used autism as a source of blame for something wrong i did.  i took full accountibity for it, saying it was my fault and i should keep my behavior in check.

if autistics are to ever be respected, this has to stop, becuase people belive autism makes people do things out of their control, when it doesn't, and it's really their control.  this is one of the reasons why we are being caused a burden to socitey.  autistics just have to control their behvaioir, keep it in check, it's just the methods to keep it in check are changed.  that's why alot of us stim in some part, to keep our emotions in check and not do stupid things.

Stealing mail is a serious offence.  

It is something like the film "One Hour Photo".  The main character is always stealing photographs of one family.  The viewer feels sympathy for him but he gets out of hand with more stealing from his employer until he gets fired and then he starts stalking people.  

Someone who has no family could at least get some pets.  Even fish if they were allergic to the furry kind.

Ugh.

If this judge thinks all criminal offending is caused by "mental disorders," he is seriously ignorant.

I've noticed that often when I read about some person using AS as an excuse for a criminal act, the criminal act isn't the kind of thing an aspie would typically do. We've seen AS cited and accepted by a court of law for an act of violence, and now it has been used as an excuse for stealing, but aspies aren't typically violent nor thieves.

If it were really true that this guy is stealing mail to get a sense of connection withothers, I think that sounds more like the kind of thing an NT who is a social outcast would do.