Pubdate: Sat,  4 Oct 2003
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Copyright: 2003 Northern Territory News
Contact:  http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283

MUM SAYS SHE'S GLAD SON IS IN JAIL

A mother who wanted her son jailed after he invaded the NT Parliament got 
her wish yesterday.

Luke Masters, 20, was sentenced to 15 days in jail after he failed to 
complete a community service order for his role in the invasion of 
Parliament during a drug protest.

His mother, Sue St James, 44, told the Northern Territory News in June 
after her son was fined $500 and ordered to perform 120 community service 
hours that she wanted him to go to jail.

"Luke needed jail," she said. "Not just a slap on the wrist."

Last night Ms St James said Luke was a changed man. She said the change had 
happened just as she had spoken out about his sentence.

"He's getting on with his life, he's a changed kid _ he's got a job waiting 
for him now when he gets out," she said.

"After the Northern Territory News article _ he wanted to change his life, 
he knew he'd done the wrong thing. I think it did give him a shock. I think 
he realised he had to change his life or he'd lose his family."

Ms St James said the reason Masters did not complete community service was 
because he had got a paid job.

But Ms St James said she still believed her son deserved his jail term. 
"He's serving his time. He knows he's done the wrong thing," she said.

"He told his younger brother (aged 18) not to break the law because he 
doesn't want him to end up in jail like he is."

Masters was one of seven people who invaded Parliament during a sitting in 
Darwin in May last year. But he took only a small part.

Masters came before Magistrate Dick Wallace for re-sentencing, admitting 
the breach of community work order and pleading guilty to three instances 
of driving the same unregistered and uninsured car without a licence in 
July this year.

"Three sets of traffic offences shows he is more interested in his own 
convenience than the ... law," the magistrate said.

He imposed fines totalling $2300 and victim levies of $360 for the traffic 
offences.

He revoked the community work order of 120 hours and on the basis of eight 
hours a day sentenced Masters to 15 days' jail.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom