Month’s Imprisonment For Intoxicated Driver

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27992, 12 June 1956, Page 6

Month’s Imprisonment For Intoxicated Driver

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Glen Robin Braddock, aged 33, a commercial traveller (Mr R. A. Young), pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate's Court yesterday to a charge of driving a car in Blenheim road on June 3 when under the influence of drink or drugs. He was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment and his driving licence was cancelled for five years. Mr Rex C. Abernethy, S.M., was on the Bench. Constable William Stickings said that at 4.3 a.m. on June 3 he went to the scene of an accident in Blenheim road near Hanson’s lane. Practically a head-on collision had occurred between Braddock’s car, which had been travelling west on its correct side of the road, and a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction. Mrs Braddock had suffered a gash on the forehead which was bleeding profusely. She was taken to hospital by ambulance. Braddock was very unsteady on his feet, his face was flushed and his breath smelt strongly of liquor, said Constable Stickings. In his opinion Braddock was not fit to be in charge of a car and he was arrested at 4.40 a.m. Cross-examined by Mr Young, Constable Stickings said that the defendant’s car was about as far left as was possible. The driver of the other car said that he had been dazzled by the lights on Braddock’s vehicle. Dr. F. L. Scott, w’ho certified Braddock as not fit to drive, said that he considered him a fairly bad case of intoxication.

Braddock, in evidence, said that on the evening of June 2 he had attended a dinner and dance. He consumed some liquor and after the function concluded at midnight he went to a friend's house at Avonside. He left there about 3.30 a.m. to return to his home at Springston. His symptoms of apparent intoxication were caused by the effects of the accident, the loss of his glasses, and the fact that he sat in front of a strong fire in the watchhouse for some time awaiting the arrival of Dr. Scott.

In his submissions Mr Young said that the police had practically conceded that the accident was the fault of the other driver.

“I have been at some pains to arrive at a fair decision,” said the Magistrate. “Braddock, you had been to a dinner and dance and had consumed enough liquor to convince all the police witnesses and the doctor that you were intoxicated. It is your second offence.” The Magistrate ordered that Braddock’s licence not be restored at the end of five years until an application was made to the Court. INTOXICATED IN CHARGE Bruce MacKenzie, aged 24, a motor engineer (Mr W. F. Brown), was fined £lO and his driver’s licence was suspended for six months when he pleaded guilty to being in charge of a car in Riccarton road on May 27 when under the influence of drink or drugs. He was originally charged with driving a car under the influence of drink or drugs but this was amended on the application of Sub-Inspector C. H. Reardon. At 3.20 a.m. on May 27 the police were called to an accident in Riccarton road, near Picton avenue, said Sub-Inspector Reardon. MacKenzie was found -asleep at the wheel of his car some distance away. His breath smelt strongly of liquor and he was unsteady on his feet when asked to get out of the car. A headlamp which was missing from MacKenzie’s car was found at the scene of the accident. He was examined at 4.25 a.m. by a doctor and found unfit to drive. He was a first offender. MacKenzie was of a nervous temperament and the doctor had reported that it was not a bad case of intoxication, said Mr Brown. “The difference between driving and being intoxicated in charge of a car may be quite substantial but it was still a fairly serious charge,” said the Magistrate. “You are supposed to have reached the years of discretion, but it appears that you are taking far too much liquor. It is only five years since you were convicted of having liquor near a dance hall.” SEVEN DAYS’ GAOL Matthew James Herbert, aged 24, an electrician, pleaded guilty to a charge of being under the influence of liquor or drugs when driving a motor-car on the main highway near Kaiapoi on June 9.

Sub-Inspector C. H. Reardon said Herbert had been to Kaiapoi, and when returning to Christchurch he was noticed by Traffic Officer A. Archer driving in an erratic manner. He was examined at Kaiapoi and certified as unfit to drive.

Herbert was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment. His licence was cancelled and he was debarred from holding one for 18 months. REMANDED

William James Strang, aged 46, was remanded to June 18 on a charge of being under the influence of drink or drugs when in charge of a motor-car at Lyttelton on May 26. Raymond Leslie MaClure, aged 35. a truck driver, was charged with being under the influence of drink or drugs when in charge of a motor-car in Lincoln road on June 3. He was remanded tc June 18. Bail was renewed in the sum of £25 and one surety of £25. George Howard Andrews, aged 38, a labourer (Mr H. S. Thomas), was re-

manded to June 18 when charged with being under the influence of drink or drugs when in charge of a motorcar in Carlyle street. BREAKING AND ENTERING Noel Marcus Hooper, aged 32, a painter, was remanded to June 18 for sentence and a Probation Officer’s report when he pleaded guilty to charges of stealing an oilskin overcoat and £l5. the property of Kenneth Richard Sadler; breaking and entering the Central Pharmacy at 33 Tainui street, Greymouth, and committing theft on or about May 31; attempting to break and enter the shop of John Henrv Havton. 3 Tainui street, Greymouth. with intent to commit a crime: and breaking and entering the shop of Kenneth Richard Sadler, 350 Lincoln road. Christchurch, and committing theft, on May 27.

Hooper had been befriended by Mr K. R. Sadler and given a home and a temporary job. said Detective-Ser-geant G. C. Urquhart. The accused had borrowed the oilskin to go to a telephone booth, but failed to return. He consumed a quantity of liquor and then discovered a letter in the pocket containing £l5. He went to Mr Sadler’s mixed business in Lincoln road, where he stole a two-piece suit, a sports coat, and cigarettes.

The followin’? morning at 2.20 a.m. he caught the rail-car for Greymouth where he obtained emplovment as a barman-porter under the name of W Mears. said Detective - Sergeant Urquhart. Hooper went on a drinking bout. He broke a window at the Central Pharmacy and stole a quantity of uoods, and when he departed, left the door wide open. Further down the street he attempted to break into the shop of Mr Hayton by smashing a glass panel in the door with his shoe but was unsuccessful as there were two locks on the door.

“The theft from Mr Sadler was a particularly mean one,” said DetectiveSergeant Urquhart. The Magistrate made an order for the return of the goods which had been recovered. THEFT OF MONEY

“You have a shocking list,” said the Magistrate when convicting and discharging Major William Gilchrist on a charge of stealing £5 4s 6d at Auckland on May 24 from Walkers Ice Supply. I Ad. Detective-Sergeant Urouhart said that Gilchrist was employed by the companv delivering ice. On May 24 after finishing work, he went with the head driver into a barber’s shop. He had with him a bag containing approximately £lO, which had been collected from the customers. Before handing the bag over to the head driver, he took £5 4s 6d. He went out of the shop, saying he would only be a few minutes, but disappeared Gilchrist was at present serving a 12 months’ gaol term imposed at Wellington, and the charge was in the nature of a washing-up one, said Detective-Sergeant Urquhart. Gilchrist said that at the time he took the money the firm owed him three days’ wages, and he did not. regard it as theft. His wife had since made restitution of £5 to the firm. BICYCLE CONVERTED Taita Paul, aged 24. a labourer, who pleaded guilty to a charge of converting a bicycle, valued at £25, on June 4. was remanded to June 18 for sentence and a Probation Officer’s report. Bail was renewed at £25, with one surety of £25. ROGUE AND VAGABOND Ashley Mercer Sellars, aged 23, unemployed, pleaded guilty to a charge of being a rogue and a vagabond a> Lyttelton on June 6 in that he had insufficient lawful means of support. He was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within 12 months, if called upon. (Before Mr L. N. Ritchie, S.M.) THEFT OF BICYCLE Richard James Pearson, aged 18, a sheet metal worker, was admitted to probation for two years when he appeared for sentence on charges of stealing a bicycle valued at £29, the property of Henry Robin Jackson, on May 26, and of stealing a bicycle valued at £29 10s on February 18. the property of Peter Rupert Garland. He was ordered to make restitution of £1 6s Id. FINED FOR ASSAULT Malcolm Wynn Rollo, aged 25, a painter, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault on Barry Thomas Belworthy on June 9. Rollo said he had been provoked into what he described as a fair fight at the back of a house and not on the street. Rollo was fined £5. CONVICTED AND DISCHARGED Pleading guilty to a charge of indecent assault on a male on April 27, Dennis Patrick Harper, a labourer, was convicted and discharged. Detective-Sergeant G. C. Urquhart said, the present charge was in the washing up process of a series of offences for which accused had been previously sentenced to a period of Borstal training. TRIAL BY JURY ELECTED Vincent John Wright elected trial by jury on a charge of stealing four cartons of boysenberries valued at £l7 Bs, the property of the Empire Express Company, on March 27. On the application of DetectiveSergeant Urquhart the hearing was adjourned to June 27.