Magistrates Court Youth Admits Nine Charges Of Car Conversion

Press, Volume C, Issue 29535, 9 June 1961, Page 16

Magistrates Court Youth Admits Nine Charges Of Car Conversion

Nine charges <rt car conversion, one of unlawfully getting into a car, two of shopbreaking and theft, and one of receiving stolen property were admitted by Donald Bruce Strachan, aged 17, a storeman employed by a motor firm, in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Strachan, who was represented by Mr G. T. Mahon, was remanded on bail to June IS for sentence by Mr A. P. Blair, S.M. Sergeant E. S. Tuck said early on May 2, James Alexander Frazer saw , two youths run away from a car at a service station on the corner of Prestons road and the Main North road. He spoke to one of the youths, who gave his name as Peter Wilson and said he had his father's car. The police found that the car had been converted from the yard of Ascot Motors in Victoria street. Damage amounting to £2O had been done to the car when it was driven through a chain fence around the yard. Strachan was interviewed by the police, and admitted converting the car in company with a boy, aged 14. who was to appear in the Children’s Court, Sergeant Tuck said. On the night of March 4 Strachan broke into a dairy shop at 73 Rutland street by using a key which he knew was hidden at the back of the shop. He took cigarettes valued at £6 10s and a canvas bag containing about £1; but this was recovered. The cigarettes were smoked by Strachan and some were exchanged for a rifle which had been stolen. The accused and another boy took a car from a garage in Madras street on the night of March 11. They went to Kaiapoi and then to South Brighton, where the car became stuck in the sand. An overcoat belonging to the owner of the car was used under the wheels of the car to get it out of the sand. The overcoat was not recovered, and the car was abandoned, slightly damaged, in Memorial avenue. Nine ignition keys from cars parked in the yard of Salisbury Motors. Ltd.. 839 Colombo street, were stolen by Strachan and two other boys on the night of March 18. The keys, valued at £2 ss. had not been recovered. Later that night Strachan used the keys to convert a car in Salisbury street and this was driven to Kaiapoi. where another car was converted in Hilton street. The keys stolen from Salisbury Motors were used to take a car from a driveway in Geraldine street on the night of March 24. It was abandoned after tools valued at £3 19s 6d had been taken from the boot. The tools had been recovered. A car taken from Geraldine street on the night of March 25 was abandoned in Geraldine street when the gears jammed. The damage amounted to £l7 10s. On the same night Strachan and the boy took a car from Sydenham by using one of the stolen keys to start the motor, said Sergeant Tuck. They drove to Rutland street, where they stole cigarettes

valued at £5 and chewing gum worth 4s from the shop of Douglas Charles Varnham. The next day the car was driven to Lyttelton and abandoned. Another car was converted from Geraldine street on the night of April 25. This was driven to Upper Ricearton and was then abandoned near Strachan’s home in Madras street. A car was converted from Avenue Car Sales. Ltd., at the corner of Ricearton road and Division street on the night of April 27. This was driven to New Brighton and was left in Geraldine street after it had been damaged to the extent of £l5. When Strachan was interviewed by the police he said that he had a .22 Winchester repeating rifle which he had obtained from a boy for £1 and £1 5s worth of cigarettes. The rifle had been stolen from Brons and Ballinger. Ltd., about Christmas. 1960. The boy was to aonear before the Children’s Court. Cars to the value of £3820 had been converted, and restitution of £37 12s was asked for. Strachan had no previous criminal history, said Se’-geant Tuck. In asking for bail, Mr Mahon said Strachan was living at home with his parents. THEFT FROM GOODS SHED When Constable O. T. Brady, of the Lyttelton police, was putting milk bottles out at his front gate he noticed a man having trouble with his bicycle, and so went over to help, said Sergeant V. F. Townshend. However, when the constable got to the man he found two cartons of peaches and two of sausages, which the man admitted taking from D shed at the Christchurch Railway Station. The man, Richard Leander Kenneth Webber, aged 20, a workman employed by the New Zealand Railways Department, pleaded guilty to the theft of the cartons, valued at £4 9s Sd. the property of the NewZealand Railways Department, on May 30. He was remanded on bail to June 15 for sentence. THEFT OF RADIO Because he did not have a radio in his flat. Graham Wootton, aged 21, a storeman. stole one from the warehouse where he was employed, said Sergeant Tuck, Wootton, who pleaded guilty to stealing a transistor radio, valued at £25, the property of A. R. Harris and Company, Ltd., on May 10, was remanded to June 15 for sentence. The accused had been drifting from job to job and had previous convictions, Sergeant Tuck said. Miss A. Barcham appeared for the accused, who was granted bail. CAR CONVERSION Peter Robert Webb, a farmhand, aged 27, was convicted and remanded for sentence until June 16 on a charge of converting a car on June 2. He pleaded guilty. Sergeant Townshend said the accused called at a city car sales yard about 6 p.m., and after paying a deposit was allowed to take a ear away. He called back about 8.30 p.m. to say that the car had developed a fault, and was at his home being fixed. The proprietor of the yard told him to bring it back immediately. About M.lO p.m, the police, who had been informed about the conversion, saw the car travelling through the Square, said Sergeant Townshend. The accused asked to be allowed to return to farm employment so that he could keep out of the city and so out of trouble.

ASSAULT CHARGES Two men pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting each other on April 1. The charge* arose from an Incident after one of the accused. Lens Gavin Price, had gone to see his wife at the home of the other accused. Ronald McDougall. The Magistrate dismissed the charge against McDougall, saying he accepted McDougall's evidence that he was not trying to start a fight when he pushed Price on the shoulder. He was trying to push Price away after having ordered him off the place. Price was convicted of the charge and ordered to come up for sentence within six months if called upon. McDougall, aged 30. a motor mechanic, said in evidence that his wife was Price's sister-in-law. There were difficulties between Price and his wife and when Price arrived at his home on the day of the assault he ordered him to leave. He had also warned Price off the property on another occasion. McDougall said Price punched him after he had tried to push Price from the doorway. Price, aged 42. a painter, said McDougall punched him in the face after he had gone to McDougall’s home to see his wife. Price was represented by Mr A. Hearn, and McDougall by Mr A. D. Holland. STOLE CIGARETTES Because he was out of cigarettes a youth hurled a rock through the window of the grocer's shop of Kevin Francis Higgins at Halswell on May 39. said Sergeant Townshend. John Alexander Gilmore, aged 17 a workman, pleaded guilty to a charge of shopbreaking and was remanded to June 16 for sentence. Gilmore put his hand In through tile window and stole cigarettes and tobacco valued at £2 Restitution amounted to £2l 2s fid. Sergeant Townshend said. ATTEMPTED INDECENT ASSAULT A man who pleaded guilty to a charge ox attempted indecent assault on a male on May 3 was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within six months if called upon. The name of the man, who was represented by Mr B. G. Dmgwall, was suppressed. THEFT OF JACKET Saying that he would give him another chance, the Magistrate convicted and fined James Poni. aged 27, £lO when he pleaded guilty to theft of a jacxet from a car belonging to Koger David Carter, which was parked in Ferry road on June 2. FINES OF £45 Ernest Harold Bland, aged 19, was convicted and fined £l5 on a charge of assaulting the proprietor of the Addington Milk Bar, Lincoln road, on June 6. He pleaded guilty. Bland and Wayne Maurice Carstairs, aged 20, were fined £l5 each tor using obscene language in the Addington Milk Bar on June 6. .Both pleaded guilty. Bland and Carstairs went into the milk bar to try to get a girl to go to a party with them, said Sergeant Townshend. When none of the girls would go with them they used the obscene language. When the proprietor tried to get them to leave Bland pushed his head into the proprietor's face. CHARGE DISMISSED Because he held it would be dangerous to convict on a criminal charge on the limited evidence of identification of the accused given by the prosecution, the Magistrate dismissed a charge of being found by night without excuse on a property in Hackthorne road on February 22. The charge was against a student, who was represented by Mr J. G. Leggat. He pleaded not guilty. Suppression of the accused's name and the complainant's name was ordered. ENTERED DANCE WITHOUT PAYING During a disturbance at the Scottish Society's Hall in Edgeware road on the evening of March 4 when a dance was being held a number of persons forced their way in without paying, said Sergeant Tuck. Dennis Norman Canovan, aged 18. was fined £3 on a charge of gaining admission to a dance without paying. Canovan had told the police that he was ashamed of himself. Sergeant Tuck said. He had previous convictions. Mr B. J. Drake, who appeared for the defendant, said he had been acquitted in the Supreme Court on a charge of unlawful assembly relating to the same evening. He had been heavily punished by the cost of the three-day trial. STOLE PLYWOOD A man, whose name was suppressed, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a sheet of plywood, valued at £4 15s. the property of Modern Trend < Christchurch 1. Ltd., on May 14. He was remanded to June 15 for sentence. CHARGE DISMISSED A charge against Moses Kahl Williams, aged 60. of supplying a false statement to the New Brighton police on April 13, in which he stated that his car had been stolen, was dismissed. Williams, who was represented by Mr R. G. Blunt, pleaded not guilty. In his evidence he said • that when he made the statement to the police he believed the car had been stolen. Later, he found out that the car. which he had bought on hire purchase, had been repossessed. FINED £3 Claude Robert McQuold. aged 23. was convicted and fined £3 for being unlawfully on the Amberley racecourse when races were being held on May 6. He did not appear. OFFENSIVE MATTER Paul Radley, aged 19, a clerk, was fined £3 when he pleaded guilty to casting offensive matter in Colombo street, opposite the Golden Moon Cafe, on April 22. LICENSEES FINED Darcy Armistice Uren, licensee of the White Swan Hotel (Mr W. F. Brown) was convicted and fined £3O when he pleaded guilty to a charge of selling liquor after hours on March 18. For selling liquor after hours on April 4. Catherine Alice Coffey, licensee of the Caledonian Hotel, was fined £l3. was represented by Mr W. F. Brown, pleaded guilty. ON LICENSED PREMISES Warn Blackburn, aged 22. was fined £3 for being on licensed RT em A se ’ after hours on March 18 He pleaded guilty s, Pat , rick , J ° se P h Hughes, aged 31, Leo Vernon Musson, lan P amck s ': in « er . and Frederick John «”i h ' a g ed were « a oh til being on licensed premises after hours on March Wa ‘kins. who pleaded ? UI1{ y by letter, was fined £3| on licensFd premises after hours on April 1 I David Stewart Holland, aged bned £3 for being on L™** s **!/P rendses a H* r hours *• *nd £3 for purchasing liquor while under age. He * as c °nvlcted and discharged i on a charge of aiding in the commission of an offence. MWOR PURCHASED LIQUOR For purchasing liquor while under age on March 18. Charles ?‘‘t*l ard HaJMaafl. aged 17. was fined £3. He did not appear. REMANDED "’hose name was supremanded until cest e 1 M? n r' thr S e S har «« of InG .u R La’ttelles aph * * CCUSed Bail Matthew Telfer, aged 21. was remanded until June 15 on a f rge of counting-house lntent to commit > crime, The alleged offence occurred at th. PoEt

Coal Company. Ltd* office In Worcester street on or about May ». Ball was allowed John Richard Vivian, aged It. a wortown (Mr B. J. Drake), was further remanded to June 15 on a charge of assault on March 3. _ . , „ William James Davis, aged 38. a tractor driver-workman (Mr G. S. Brockett), was remanded on ball to June 15 on a charge of warehouse breaking and ] theft at the premises of Beilins Industrie*. 9 Byron street, on February 18 Patrick Thoma* Hammond, aged 37. was further reminded on bail to June 15 on a charge; of unlawfully taking a tractor.; valued at £lOOO. at Cheviot on May 31. (Before Mr R. D. Jamieson. , S.M.) SENT TO BORSTAL Although he ws* pleased by, David John Aiken's confession I in which he look the blame j for a number of offence* committed by him and two other I youths, the time had come fori more drastic measures, said ths Magistrate, in sentencing Aiken to Borstal training on 11 charges of breaking and entering. a charge of conversion of| a car valued at £430. one of escaping from the Addington Prison, and one of assault on Peter Maxwell Johnson. "On September 33. IMO. you were pieced on probation on three charges of shopbreaking.'' said the Magistrate. “Your behaviour seems to be completely reckless." Asked by the Magistrate whether he had anything to say. Aiken said that the other youths involved in the offences came with him because he asked them to. "It was not their fault." he said. Earlier. Aiken was convicted on a charge of assault on Johnson, aged 19. a van driver, on April 5. after he had pleaded not guilty. In evidence. Johnson said that Aiken and another youth named Stenhouse had followed him down Carlyle street and Colombo street to the Hamburger Bar In Sydenham, about 1130 p.m. on April 5. At the bar he was attacked by three youths, one of whom was Aiken. Senior-Sergeant G. M. Cleary said that Stenhouse would be charged later. Aiken, who conducted his own defence, denied following Johnson to the bar and attacking him. PROBATION Appearing for sentence with Aiken were three other youths on charges of shopbreaking and theft and also car conversion. They all pleaded guilty to the charges last week. Robert Hugh Jaggar. aged 18. was placed on probation for two years on two charges of shopbreaking and theft, both which occurred on May 19. Mr H. W. Thompson, who appeared for Jaggar, said that the offences were out of character and the accused now regretted his actions. He had a good education and background. he said. On two joint charges of shopbreaking and theft with Jaggar and Aiken, Gordon Bruce Scott, aged 19. was also placed on probation for two years. He was represented by Mr B. J. Drake, who said that he had a good record before these offences. Two years' probation was also Imposed on Basil Joseph Murphy, aged 18 (Mr G. T. Mahon). Murphy was appearing for sentence on a joint charge of shopbreaking and theft and a similar single charge, and also a joint charge of car conversion. Mr Mahon said that Murphy's part In the offences had not been as active as that of the other youths. He regretted his 1 part in the offences, which had ! spoilt a good record. HUSBAND AND WIFE REMANDED Donald Mcßae MacArthur, aged 38. a workman, wax further remanded for sentence until June 15 on two charges of allowing a girl under the age of 18 to be on hi* premises at 226 Marine parade. New Brighton, for the purpose of being carnally known and a charge of permitting the premises to be used tor habitual prostitution. He pleaded guilty to the charges last week. The accused's wife, Faye MacArthur. aged 22. was also further remanded tn June 13 on a charge of aiding and abetting the premises to be used for habitual prostitution. She admitted the charge last week. Mr M. G. L. Loughnan. who appeared for both the accused, said that he had been instructed a few minutes before the case was called, and It would be unfair if the matter was heard then. He said that a medical report on the wife and a psychiatric report on the husband might be of some importance to the Court. Bail was renewed. CONVERSION CHARGES He could not believe that an elderly Tlnwald man had offered to lend the accused his ancient car so that he could drive to Christchurch while the man was left in Ashburton two miles from his home without transport, said the Magistrate. He convicted Brian George Ashford Martin, aged 20. a workman (Mr J. N. Matson), on a charge of converting a car owned by Walter Stanley Beach In Ashburton on May 15. The charge was adjourned to June 15 for sentence of the accused. TV'o other youth* who were also found in the car when it was stopped by police near Cherstev were also charged with converting the vehicle. They were Atu Pikari. aged 17. and Swanson Hugh Kereti Kotata. aged 19. both of whom were represented by Mr L. G. Holder. In dismissing the conversion charges against Pikari and Kotata. the Magistrate said he strongly suspected that they knew Martin had converted the vehicle, but there was some slight possibility th*t thev had accepted a story from Martin that Beach had lent the car to travel to Christchurph. Charge* against the three accused of wilfully damaging the car were dismissed. Martin was remanded on bail to June 15 on separate charges of breaking and entering the Methodist Children* Home. Christchurch, on Mav 14, with intent to commit theft, and assisting a prisoner to escape from a penal institution. Pikari, who also appeared for sentence on a charge of theft of a radiogram valued at £2O from hi* sister at Porirua, on February 20. was paced on probation for two years. SENT TO BORSTAL "At the time of the offence the accused was In an advanced state of Intoxication. and I thought the house he entered was the one in which the girl he was with was Bleeping." said Mr G. T. Mahon, appearing for Barry Thomas Jack. Jack, aged 17, was appearing for sentence on a charge of arson at Christchurch on April 24 and also a charge of disorderly behaviour at Ashburton on April 27. He I admitted both charge* last ; week. Mr Mahon said that It was only when the accused and the girl were inside the building I that he realised they were in I the wrong building. The girl I had been bad company for the I accused and she had wanted to | go Into the premises, he said. ' The probation officers' report i indicated that the background of the accused could hardly be worse. Mr Mahon said. Jack's mind was upset, and he needed help rather than punishment. Psychiatric treatment might be of some help. "Arson I* a serious charge and even more so since when you were on probation at the time." raid the Magistrate in sentencing Jack to Borstal training. GIRL SENTENCED ON 11 CHARGES Appearing for sentence on 11 Charges of theft involving i article* of clothing to the value of almost £lOO. Lvnette Norma Brown, aged II <Mr N. j Buchanan). was placed on pro-

bation for two ysars Rretlluto the chargee las* week. Mr Bucnanan said thM a* the accused wasi a first offender. she might benefit from a period on probed ion. "You have Mton down bttonewnen with a certain degree of cold btoodednes*. and *o that no-one else may get the blame for the offence* 1 will •not suppress your name, said I the Magistrate. in refusing an application that the accused* name be suppressed. PROBATION FOR "LOOKDION" Described by hie counsel (Mr D. Oldham) a* a "k»ker-on lin the offences to which he | had pleaded guilty last week. I Kevin Victor Hurst was placed ion probation for two year*. I The charges were of unlaw- . fully converting a car. va.ued lat £5OO. and stealing six ignl- . Uon keys, valued at £1 10*Hurst had kept watch while I other youth* stole the *«? •**“ converted the cor. Mr Oldham j****' PRISON SENTENCES Galvin Charles Davey, aged M. and Neil Frederick Baker. I aged 11. were each sentenced •to nine months' impnomment on a joint charge of housebreaking and theft on May 36. On a further charge agoinet each youth of theft of a wallet and money valued st £3l las on th* *ame date, each was sentenced to three months lnv pnmmmerrt. the sentence* to be concurrent. They were convicted Last w eek. Both accused had had the benefit of Borstal training ard probation, and all attempts at reforming them had been unsuccessful, said the Magistrate. Neither Davey nor Baker was represented by counsel, and neither had anything to aay. YOUTHS SENTENCED John Kina, aged 20. Douglas Joseph Broderick, aged 18. and Robert James Wilson, aged 19. appeared for sentence on charges of shopbreaking and theft at Christchurch on May 20 and May 21 and also a charge of warehouse breaking and theft on May 31. They admitted the charge* last week. Wilson also appeared on a charge of breaking the term* of his probation. He pleaded guilty and was convicted and discharged. On the other charges he was sentenced to Borstal training. Broderick and King were each placed on probation for two years. MONTH S IMPRISONMENT After having a few beer* with a friend at the Black Horse Hotel at lunch time on May 8. Michael Colin Harrt*. aged 24. had acted on impulse and taken a box of tool*, valued at £7O. from a truck parked In the yard of the hotel, saki Harris's counsel. Mr B J. Drake. Harris, who pleaded guilty last week to the charge of stealing the tools, was imprisoned for one month and placed on probation for one year. An order was made for the return of the property and also tor Cl2 restitution. BORSTAL TRAINING Appearing for sentence on four charges of theft, two of burglary, one of shopbreaking, and one of wilful damage, Michael Kenneth Pearson, aged 18, was sentenced to Borstal training. "As the offences were committed while you were on probation there is only one course open to me.'* said the Magistrate. (Before Mr Raymond Ferner. S.M.) FINED £6 Kevin Lawrence John Ashton, aged 17. was convicted and fined £6 for being unlawfully on enI closed premise* on April 14. He pleaded not guilty. He was represented by Mr W. F. Brown. Ashton said that he met a girl in Cathedral square about 8.15 p.m. and took her to his home to play record*. He took her to Ker own home about 10.30 p.m., and she told him where her bedroom was and invited him to come back later in the night. He did this, but when he tapped on the window of her bedroom a light want on and he heard a door slam. He then jumped a fence and left the property. The girl, in evidence, denied giving Ashton permission to come to the property thst night. THEFT George Francis Williams, a car painter, aged 21 (Mr B. J. Drake), was convicted and remanded until June 19 for aentence on a charge of theft of materials worth 9* on April 30. He denied the charge. John Ross Jacobson, a former employer of the accused, said he arrived at his car painting workshop on May 1 to find 10 cubic feet of oxygen, five cubic feet of acetylene, welding rod and a sanding disc missing. The accused said he had borrowed the welding plant some welding rods and a sanding disc from Jacobson's workshop on April 30 but had returned the gear and Intended to pay the complainant for the gas he used. GAOL FOR THEFT 9i w A ld s P*ncer, a labourer, a ** d , K M .- ’ FntFncFd to four months Imprisonment on a varnfn °L th ,*Z! of two radiM valued at £49 on Mav 12 M nCe T a fiP« ared for sentence. “*r A. Hearn, who appeared for Spencer, said It Is not easy for a man, once sent to prison to pick up the thread of a decent social life. Spencer was Imprisoned in 1952 for counting break ' n *- H * had ainJe dishonesty?***' conv,<d| on tor think that Ik'* ,m P d ** lbl * «o bl ™i..2J he accused can now be released on probation, for Ma£:? r a*te' Oni '*° rd '" “ ld CHARGE DISMISSED m The of chudren trate when ha dtontoed . Se &E r ‘" d ° UM '- ““ Mr B. J. Drake appeared for the accused. -wc-jvu ror TRAFFIC cases Offenders charged by tha Transport Department 7 de.lt with Wer * Exceeding 30 mi lee an hourray* th McKenrt <1; Murray McKenzie Graham. £JGraham Desmond Johrtoone £7 (no warrant of fitness £l7NelmL' ? ri ' llan > Mc lMyre. £2; N«22 ,j « John O'Sullivan, £5James Pereasky. £g* Speed too greet to stop In « ClCBr rOAd »hs»nr< ■ TaMw* Albert Authur, £7 (no warrant of fitnere. £2; dSrU”. aft?r" n *oHrf° a ** rUln ‘SJury after accident: Kerry Fo-d relied* Mr and Ik-ence canoe'lled for three months 'speed X’Xd* hai < Exceeding miles an hour in h2X~*l' v * WcJ * : Conr ** Driving without reasonable W r £m n: , “T £lO, licence cancelled Mr »h IX month * lnd endorsed £lM"' to kecp "•* unlicensed r 3^ Ve “*** ta Lojtotton Harbour Board’. dock is acoommodßtuic |622-ton coastal motor-veewl. Breeze, u undergoing annui overtwu] and survey, and th. QM^ k L-? arbour Board* 923-ton hopper dhredger, Nga,“4? drxik for the tam. reason. The Ngamotu i. not expected to complete overhaul until the end of th. tnotuh, but the Breeze i. exre"”w*r *wvice i> line next few dayw