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Offender Databases Dion Lange

Dion Lange

Alias

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Offences

Home invasion and armed robbery of a Fielding woman in March 2004
Has 68 previous convictions and 17 prison sentences

Victims

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Offender Affiliations

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Gang affiliations

Mongrel Mob

Age

Born 1976

Current Location

Unknown

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to 6 years 6 months with only a 3 year non parole period in July 2004
Release to be updated....

Background
From a Manuwatu Standard article 23/07/2004
A CAREER criminal who used to tour primary schools warning children against a life of crime yesterday received a six-and-a- half-year prison term for aggravated robbery. Dion John Lange, 28, appeared before Judge Phillip Connell in Palmerston North District Court after admitting at an earlier hearing to bursting in to the home of a Feilding woman, binding her in masking tape and making off with $16,000 in jewellery. He was armed with a pistol during the March 1 attack. Crown prosecutor Saul Holt spoke of Lange's extensive criminal history, which includes 68 previous convictions and 17 terms of imprisonment.

The robbery possessed a number of aggravating factors including Lange's use of a weapon -- though it was not loaded, the fact the offence took place in a private home, and the level of premeditation. Lange's victim was "genuinely shattered" by the robbery, Mr Holt said. The stolen jewellery has never been found, and was not insured at the time of the robbery. The robbery showed "an extremely unusual level of offending", and was the type of crime more commonly seen in cities such as Johannesburg than a town like Feilding, Mr Holt said. He urged Judge Connell to consider a starting point of 10 years in prison, and a minimum non-parole period of at least two-thirds the final sentence. Defence counsel Fergus Steedman said he had got to know Lange well, and now saw beyond his client's heavy facial tattoos.

He said Lange was angry at himself for the robbery. "He looks back at what he has done... he says `how could I do that?' "Lange, despite taking a firearm to the robbery, had little history of violent offending, and insisted there was no element of premeditation in the robbery, Mr Steedman said. Judge Connell accepted that fact, but commented on the trauma Lange had caused his victim. "It is clear that the victim is not going to fully get over what happened to her. "She has been terrified by the offending, as you could understand and respect. "Judge Connell then set a starting point of seven years, with an extra year added for the aggravating factors. He then discounted Lange 18 months for his guilty plea, which prevented the victim having to give evidence at trial. Judge Connell also imposed a minimum non-parole period of three years.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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