GAOL FOR OFFENCES IN BOTH ISLANDS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30426, 28 April 1964, Page 3

GAOL FOR OFFENCES IN BOTH ISLANDS

(New Zealand Press Association)

PALMERSTON NORTH, April 27.

Damage to property, and money illegally received by Donald Charles Hughes, aged 26. a salesman for a Hamilton company, during his visits to centres in both islands in January amounted to £139, according to Detective Senior-Sergeant A. W. Baker in the Magistrate’s Court at Palmerston North today.

Hughes, who pleaded guilty to six charges of false pretences; two of obtaining credit by fraud, and one of theft, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment. On a charge of breach of the terms of his probation he was convicted and discharged.

Asked if he had anything to say, accused said: “All I can say is that I was a fool.” Mr D. G. Sinclair, S.M.: You have only to realise that,

and you are on the road to sanity. Mr Baker told the Court accused had opened a Motueka banking account against which he issued cheques after his credit • balance was exhausted. He had obtained a £4OO car at Motueka by presenting a valueless cheque for £256 5s and then damaged the car to. the extent of £99 by colliding with a culvert. On a flight to Auckland from Christchurch accused had persuaded a passenger to sell him a cheque form, with which he paid for his passage by filling it in. Then at Auckland he erased the imprint that the ticket had been obtained by cheque, and obtained a refund of £ll 10s on his fare from the south.. His identity was detected when he attempted on April 19 to remove petrol from a car at Bulls.

“Leniency is being extended through the terms of imprisonment not being made cumulative,” said the Magistrate. in imposing 12 months’ gaol for false pretences, a similar term for obtaining credit by faud. and three months on the charge of theft.