PROBATION FOR SALESMAN

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29724, 18 January 1962, Page 18

PROBATION FOR SALESMAN

Burglary And Theft

(From Our Own Reporter) REYMOUTH, January 17.

“I have been impressed by what your counsel has said and by the rather peculiar circumstances in that at 37 years of age you have never been in any trouble until last year,” said the Magistrate in admitting a salesman, Raymond Valentine Patrick Wren, of 86 Clare road. Christchurch, to probation for two years on a charge of burglary and fining him £lO and costs on each of two charges of theft. The Magistrate added that tfie accused’s offences appeared to be the result of drink associated with domestic troubles. “I w'ould like to point out to you that the sentence for your offences is almost invariably imprisonment, and you must appreciate the fact that if ever you come before the Court again that will be your punishment,” he added. The accused pleaded guilty to the following offences (1) that on January 2 he broke and entered with intent to commit a crime the premises of the Brunner Workingmen’s Club at Wallsend: (2) that on December 21 at Christchurch he stole a box of paints and brushes valued at £lO. the property of George Henry Johnston; (3) that on December 19 at Christchurch he stole a bicycle valued at £lO, the property of Lindsay Hugh Moore.

Detective-Sergeant S. B. McEwen said that the owner of the bicycle left it outside his place of employment on December 19 and later found it missing. A few days later the accused tried to sell the machine for £1 to another person. The bicycle had been recovered. In regard to the paints and brushes, the complainant was working at the Carlton Hotel, and while he was having a drink the paint box disappeared. Accused admitted taking it for a joke and said he had intended returning it. The property had been recovered.

At 11 p.m. on the night of January 2 the last employee left the Brunner Workingmen’s Club, and at 9.46 the following morning it was found that the premises had been entered by the smashing of tw r o louvres in a window.

Liquor and cigarettes to the value of £23 13s were stolen and damage costing £1 12s was done. When interviewed the accused admitted the offence. The accused had previously been before the Court, but not for offences involving hishonesty, said DetectiveSergeant McEwen. Appearing for Wren, Mr C. R. McGinley said that as a result of disorderly behaviour in October last he had lost his position in Christchurch. He became despondent and sought solace in drink. This resulted in a series of offences all within a period of three weeks. The present burglary charge was the result of a wager the accused accepted at a party, that he could not obtain a bottle of spirits. The probation officer’s report indicated that the accused would benefit by a period of probation, counsel said.