Magistrate’s Court Six Months’ Gaol For Assault On Prison Officer

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30840, 27 August 1965, Page 15

Magistrate’s Court Six Months’ Gaol For Assault On Prison Officer

“1 am not prepared to tolerate assaults on prison warders in any circumstances,” said Mr K. H. J. Headifen, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday when he sentenced Allan Leonard Hunter, aged 25, a prison inmate, to six months’ imprisonment on a charge of assaulting Radley John Booth, a prison officer, on July 25. This sentence is to be added to the term Hunter is at present serving. He pleaded guilty. Mr N. W. Williamson, who prosecuted, said that on Sunday, July 25, there was a riot at Paparua Prison. Prisoners in the east wing were taking no part in the riot. While they were being escorted to the west wing Hunter attacked Prison Officer Booth. He kicked him on the leg and punched him twice on the head.

Hunter told the prison authorities he saw Prison Officer Booth coming towards him with a handful of knives and he thought he was going to attack him. Hunter denied kicking the officer. Hunter was serving a term of two years’ imprisonment on charges of burglary and unlawfully taking a car, Mr Williamson said. FALSE PRETENCES The accused issued invalid cheques to get money to pay debts she had acquired by issuing other invalid cheques, Detective Sergeant A. E. V. Yaxley said, when a woman, whose name was suppressed (Mr M. J. Glue), appeared on four charges of false pretences between June 28 and August 6 involving invalid cheques totalling £56. The woman, who pleaded guilty to all charges, was convicted and remanded on bail to September 2 for sentence.

Detective Sergeant Yaxley said that the woman had incurred debts totalling about £5OO by issuing invalid cheques, but had paid back about £2OO of this. Some of this money had come from her husband’s wages, and some from more invalid cheques she had issued. With the latter, she had purchased small amounts of goods and had received larger amounts in change. She had then paid her more immediate debts. Because the woman had been endeavouring to repay all her debts, only four complaints had been received by the police, said Detective Sergeant Yaxley. Granting interim suppression of name, the Magistrate said it was most unlikely that final suppression would be granted. BURGLARY

John Wayne Jeffrey, aged 18, a workman, was remanded in custody to September 2 for sentence on charges of breaking and entering the Sumner Post Office, unlawfully taking a car valued at £lOO, the property of Ross Wayne Thompson, and causing wilful damage valued at £3OO to the home of Myrtle Iris Craddock on August 15. He pleaded guilty. Detective B. J. Preston said that Jeffrey' broke into the Sumner Post Office through the front door. Papers were strewn about the premises but nothing was stolen. Jeffrey admitted that he had been to a party at Lyttelton and had had a good deal of liquor. With two juveniles, who had been dealt with in the Children’s Court, he went to the Craddock home, and they smashed furniture, leaving the place in chaos. They then took the car, and Jeffrey was dropped off in the city. An application by bail by Mr D. H. Stringer, who appeared for Jeffrey, was refused.

THREE CHARGES On three charges of driving while under the influence of drink or drugs, failing to ascertain whether a person was injured, and failing to stop after an accident. Raymond Douglas Erridge, aged 29, a truck driver (Mr P. J. Thompson). was convicted, imprisoned for seven days, fined a total of £25. and his licence was cancelled for three years. He pleaded guilty to all the charges. The charges of failing to stop and failing to ascertain were brought against the defendant after events in Bartlett street. The offence of driving while under the influence of drink or drugs took place in Riccarton road. All the offences occurred on August 17. The Magistrate said that they were bad examples of those types of offences. The courts had given repeated warnings and the public interest must be served. The defendant richly deserved the punishment. STOLE £l3O Malcolm Henry Bishop, agco 24. a farm hand, was conveted and remanded in custody ti September 2 for a report and sentence when he appeared on a charge of breaking and entering the Kerridge Odeon Tourist Hotel on Pakatoa Island on August 16. He pleaded guilty Detective Sergeant Yaxley said that on the night of August 15. £l3O in money was taken from the office safe ana cash registers in the hotel ißshop. who was a guest at the hotel at the time, left the premises in a hurry about 7.30 a m. on August 16 When interviewed in Christchurch. Bishoo admitted taking tiie money. He said he did not have any’ money and was desperate. He did not have any of -he stolen money when interviewed, having spent it all, said Detective Sergeant Yaxley. . RODE WHILE INTOXICATED

Disqualification from driving for three years, and a fine of £2O. v as imposed on William Muschamp. aged 44. a m ichine moulder (Mr P. J. Thompson), when he was convicted on a charge of driving a powercycle on the Main South road on August 21 while under the influence of drink or drugs He was also ordered to pay medical expenses of £3 3s. On a further charge of not having a driver's licence on the same date, he was convicted and fined £2. He pleaded guilty to both charges. Detective Sergeant Yaxley said that at 6.25 p.m. on August H. Traffic Officer L. B. Bolton saw Muschamp travelling towards Church corner on the Main South road. Muschamp, who was riding a powercycle, was weaving from the side of

the road to the centre line. He was later certified as being unfit to drive. SENT TO CHILDREN’S COURT

A youth, aged 17. whose name was suppressed, was remanded to appear in the Children s Court today on 24 charges of theft Involving radio aerials, car rear-vision mirrors, a fog lamp, and damage to a car door handle The total amount involved is £142. Mr W. F. Brown, who an peared for the youth, said his client and a youth, aged 16. were involved in the offences, which were committed after they had two or three flagons of hecr The accused nad not long turned 17 at the time. RECEIVING CHARGES

Maurice Joseph Christopher Martin, aged 17. a labourer, was remanded on bail to September 2 for sentence on a charge of receiving car parts and a jacket, valued at £33 10s. when he knew they had been stolen He pleaded guilty. Rodger Francis Quigley, aged 20. a driver, was remanded on bail to September 2 for sentence on a charge of receiving car parts, valued at £22, when he knew they had been stolen He pleaded guilty. Charles Whitley, aged 19, a truck driver, was remanded on bail to September 2 for sentence on a charge of receiving car parts, valued at £33 10s when he knew they had been stolen He pleaded guilty. OBSCENE LANGUAGE Charged with using obscene language tn Papanui road on June 6, Phillip Charles Turner, aged 17, an apprentice carpenter (Mr N. H. Buchanan), was convicted and fined £lO. He pleaded guilty. TWO ASSAULTS

On two charges of assault on lack Lawson and Robert Hector Butcher, both on August 19. Keith William Morgan, aged 42, a labourer (Mr G. R. Lascelles), was convicted and fined £7 on each. He pleaded guilty to both charges. Detective-Sergeant Yaxley said that at 10.15 p.m. on August 19 the defendant had taken offence at a remark made by Lawson at a party being held at Lawson’s house. He went berserk and picked up a concrete block from the road outside the house and threatened Lawson with it. He was intoxicated. Mr Lascelles said that it was a drunken piece of aggression for which there was no excuse. The defendant had only on* previous conviction.

THEFT FROM STAMP MACHINE Desmond John Millward, aged 19, a Uno-layer, was convicted and discharged and ordered to make restitution of £5 7s lid on a charge of stealing Is lid from a stamp vending machine at the Sydenham Post Office about October 9, 1963. He pleaded guilty. Detective-Sergeant Yaxley said the stamp vending machine was damaged to the value of £5. Mr L. M. O’Reilly, for the accused, said Millward recalled that late one evening after a party he and several youths broke open the stamp machine He did not remember receiving any money.

ENTERED BUTCHERS' SHOPS On charges of breaking and entering two butchers’ shops in Yaldhurst road on July 11 and stealing goods valued at a total of £l2 8s 6d, Roderick Pau) Brown, aged 21, a butcher, was convicted and remanded on bail to September 2 for a report and sentence. He pleaded guilty to both charges. FORGERY

Annette Denise Parker, aged 19 married, was remanded on bail to September 2 for sentence on a charge of forgery of a Social Security postal warrant, valued at £l5 18s, on February 19. She pleaded guilty. Sergeant P. J. Alty said Parker found the warrant among the mail delivered to the block of flats in which she was staying. She was going to give it to the person to whom it was addressed, but she was very short of money. STOLE BICYCLE Charged with the theft of a bicycle valued at £2 on August 21, Stewart Newell Burns, aged 22, a driver (Mr J. W. Dalmer), was convicted and fined £lO. He pleaded guilty. PLEADED GUILTY Charged with the theft of a gate and a battery discharge meter, valued at £B, on May 13, Alister Leo Hogg, aged 41. a boiler attendant (Mr L. G. Holder), was convicted and fined £5. He pleaded guilty. FINED £5 Charged with being unlawfully on premises in Ensign street without intent, on August 21, Dimitor Pileff. aged 20, a machine operator, was convicted and fined £5. He pleaded guilty. An application for suppression of name by Mr W. S. Smith, who appeared for Pileff, was refused. BURGLED GARAGE Charged with breaking and entering the Barrington Service Station, Barrington street, on August 25, Donald Alexander Boyd, aged 21. was convicted and remanded in custody to September 2 tor a report and sentence. He pleaded guilty. WILFUL DAMAGE On a charge of wilful damage on July 16. Edwin Charles Webb, aged 35, a dexion operator (Mr M. J. Glue), was convicted and remanded on bail to September 2 for a report and sentence. He pleaded guilty. STOLE RADIO Charged with the theft of a transistor radio valued at £39 on June 24 at Whangarei, Dale Preston Bowen, aged 18, a construction worker, was convicted and remanded on bail to September 2 for a report and sentence. He pleaded guilty. An order was made for the return of the property. CREDIT BY FRAUD

Charged with obtaining credit for £7 Ils 8d by fraud from John Burns and Company, Ltd., High street, on August 19, Lawrence Sinclair, aged 53. a painter, was convicted and remanded on bail to September 2 for a report and sentence. He plead ed guilty. CHARGE DISMISSED

The Magistrate dismissed a charge of lurking near a dwell-ing-house on May 19 against a man who pleaded not guilty, and whose name was suppressed. Mr B. J. Drake, with him Mr M. .1. Glue appeared for the defendant. REMANDED On a charge of attempted rape in Breezes road on August 25. Keith Edward Timms, aged 33. was remanded to September 23 under the provisions of the Mental Health Act. Detective-Sergeant Yaxley, who said other charges were pending, opposed bail Mr R. L Kerr, who appeared for the accused, said Timms had had an accident in which he suffered a depressed fracture of the skull.

The Magistrate refused to grant an application for suppression of name. James Wills, aged IS. a driver, was remanded in custody to September 2 when he appeared on a charge of false pretences involving an invalid cheque for £9 12s 6d on August 19. Peter James Sutton, aged 32, a clerk, was remanded on bail to September 9 when he appeared on a charge of indecent ’assault between Lake Lyndon ■ and Christchurch on August 21. Jointly charged with assaulting Charles Geary on August 22, Graeme Gosney, aged 18. a cook, Lawrence Adrian Sullivan, aged 17, a labourer, and Steven Sergio Searle, aged 17. a tile maker, were remanded on bail to September 2. On four charges of false pre itencei on July 15, Joseph Pater-

I son Munro, aged 54. a clerk, was | remanded on bail to September j Charged with driving while ' under the influence of drink or I drugs in Colombo street on August 20. Frederick Rang) Kotua Kereopa, aged 34. a butcher. i was remanded on bail to Sep j tember 2. | (Before Mr E. S. J. Crutchley, S.M.) SMUGGLING On a charge of smuggling a transistor radio valued at £lO at Lyttelton on July 18. Peter Selwyn Thomas, aged 21, a joiner, was convicted and fined £25. He pleaded guilty by letter. For the Customs Department. Mr N. R. Morgan said the defendant had been stopped when leaving No. 2 wharf by a customs officer. He denied having uncustomed goods in his possession. Mr Morgan said the officer noticed a bulge on the defendant s back as he walked away. When called back, the defendant was found to have a transistorised radio strapped to his back. The defendant admitted having bought the radio from a seaman in the Turakina for £lO. FINED, DISQUALIFIED

Louis Albert Upton, aged 80. a retired labourer, defended himself when he appeared on a charge of driving a truck while under the influence of drink or drugs on Lincoln road on August 21. He was fined £25 and his licence was cancelled for three years. He pleaded not guilty. DISCHARGED John Keith Dobson, a company manager <Mr C. B. Atkinson), was discharged under section 42 of the Criminal Justice Act on a charge of failing to comply with the notification of a noxious weeds inspector employed by the Wairewa County Council. The decision had previously been reserved. Mr J. H. Gebbie appeared for the council. The Magistrate said the defendant had a substantial prob lem on his property and had spent a lot of money on control. It was not the case of a defendant trying to side-step his responsibilities. FINED £l5 Augustus Watts was convicted and fined £lO on a charge of connecting a water supply pipe without the consent of the Paparua County Council engineer in May. On a charge of making an excavation without permission he was convicted and fined £5.

TO PAY COSTS On a complaint brought under the Post Office Act K. L. Palmer was ordered to pay £27 12s 3d to the Post and Telegraph Department for repairs to lines damaged on August 3. 1964, when a car he was driving struck a pole in Oxford road, Rangiora. SHOP OFFENCE On charges of failing to close a shop as required by the Shops and Offices Act convictions were entered and fines imposed as follows: Jager Gopal, £2: Norman John Wallace, £3: Raymond Leslie Whittlnlon, £2: Margaret Brown. £1 IDs. FINED £1 On charges of keeping an unregistered dog E. Burnett and J. E. Wilson were each convicted and fined £l. EDUCATION OFFENCE On a charge of failing to send a child to school as required by the Education Act James Henry Salt was convicted and fined £5. UNLICENSED TV Arnold Little was convicted and fined £3 on a charge of having an unlicensed television set on February 3. He pleaded guilty by letter.