Magistrate’s Court TWO MEN ADMIT CHARGE OF IMPERSONATING POLICE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28840, 10 March 1959, Page 17

Magistrate’s Court TWO MEN ADMIT CHARGE OF IMPERSONATING POLICE

A youth was seized by the coat, shaken and then given about six backhand slaps across the face by a man who posed as a detective, Sergeant V. F. Townshend told Mr Raymond Ferner, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The man, Kevin Barry Crannitch, aged 24, a workman, and a companion, George William Thomas, aged 25, a workman, both pleaded guilty to charges of impersonating a police officer. Crannitch also pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Eric Neil Withell.

Both accused who were represented by Mr J. N. Matson were remanded in custody until Friday for a probation officer’s report and sentence. About 12.15 a.m. on March 8 the complainant and two other youths were sitting on the bank of the Avon river near the Worcester street bridge after having a meal of fish and chips, when they were accosted by Crannitch and Thomas, said Sergeant Townshend. The two men said they were members of the C. 1.8. and that they intended to take the complainant to the Central Police Station. .One of the accused told the other to get a car. When the complainant asked the accused why they wanted to. see him he was called a “smart Alec,” said Sergeant Townshend. The complainant was told he was to be booked for soliciting. While one of the complainant’s friends went to call the police the assault took place and as a result he had a sore upper lip. Just after the assault the police arrived on the scene and the accused were taken to the Central Police Station. Crannitch said the impersonation of the police was a joke which went too far and he denied that he had laid hands on anybody. Crannitch had 10 convictions and Thomas eight, said Sergeant Townshend. Crannitch denied that he had slapped the youth and claimed that all he had done was to catch hold of him by the tie, said Mr Matson. He had been asked by

both accused to express their regret at the incident as they both realised they could not go about impersonating policemen. They had been drinking on the river bank when on the spur’ of the moment the incident took place. Their actions had not been contemplated beforehand and they got nothing out of it. “Yoti have only to look at the two men concerned to see that

they would not have deceived anyone,’’ Mr Matson said. Both men wanted to go to Bluff to take up work with the Harbour Board and no profit would be gained either by the public or the men themselves by imposing any penalty other than a fine. They had both been unemployed, he said. The offences were somewhat serious, said the Magistrate when remanding the two accused. IDLE AND DISORDERLY

William David Knapp, who had been convicted on April 18, 1958, on a charge of being an idle and disorderly person, had given himself up to the police, admitting that he had no lawful means of support, said Sergeant Townshend. Knapp was charged with being a rogue "and Vagabond in’that he had insufficient. lawful means of support ' He Wat., remanded .to March 12 for sentence. Sergeant Townshend said Knapp had 6d ipliis possession when he called at the police station. Asked ff he had anything to say the accused said he suffered from extremely bad nerves and had an neurosis.’’ He found it difficult to settle down to a job. The Magistrate called for a probation officer’s report. OBSCENE EXPOSURE Ronald Doyle, aged 32 (Mr J. G. Leggat) pleaded not guilty to a charge of obscene exposure on March 1. He was convicted and remanded to March 23 for sentence. Bail was renewed. ASSAULTED WIFE William Ivan Mcllroy, aged 45, who pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting his wife on March 8 was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within 12 months, if called upon. He was also ordered to take out a prohibition order. REMANDED Desmond Frederick Woodcock, aged 22, (Mr J. N. Matson) was remanded to March 16 on a charge of breaking . and entering a shop on February 6. Bail waft renewed. Haytbn George Williams, aged 32, was remanded to March 16 on a charge of assault on March 7. He was granted bail of £25 with one surety of £25 and was ordered to report daily t 6 the police. (Before Mr A. P. Blair, S.M.) RESTITUTION OF £175 Restitution of £175 was ordered to be paid by Arthur George Arnold, aged 19, an unemployed workman, when he appeared for sentence on a charge of converting a car valued at» £lOOO at Greymouth on February 20. He was placed on probation for two years.

Arnold, at a previous Court sitting, had admitted taking the car to travel to Christchurch, along with a 15-year-old yopth. While the other youth was driving the car near Springfield it was overturned and sustained damage of £350. ‘•You behaved in a most irresponsible manner, and your conduct has not been made any better because it appears to be caused by drink,” said the Magistrate.

Arnold had committed a serious offence and if he appeared in Court again he could hot expect further leniency,” the Magistrate said.