MAGISTRATE’S COURT Seaman Imprisoned On Narcotics Charge

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31089, 18 June 1966, Page 24

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Seaman Imprisoned On Narcotics Charge

A seaman yho bought a quantity of marijuana in Panama, which was later found in his cabin at Lyttelton by the police vice squad, was imprisoned for six months when he appeared for sentence before Mr E. S. J. Crutchley, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. John Evans Ross Cannon, aged 19 (Mr D. H. Stringer), was charged that on June 29 at Lyttelton he had in his possession a dangerous drug, Cannabis sativa (marijuana). Mr Stringer said that there was no question that the marijuana which Connon had bought in Panama was for supplying other people, or was for sale.

“He yielded to temptation in Panama and as a result had had to postpone his wedding which alone has cost him between £2OO and £300,” said Mr Stringer. The Magistrate said that Connon was liable for up to seven years’ imprisonment. The Legislature regarded the offence as serious. He had to impose a sentence which gave due weight to Connon’s admission as to how he came into possession of the drug, the fact that he had brought it into New Zealand and had kept it in his possession for a time.

“This was far from a casual possession of the drug. He had kept it in his possession for several months,” he said. The Magistrate said he accepted that Connon, apart from this offence, was of good character, but he could not close his eyes to the fact that Connon had deliberately purchased the drug overseas.

Other possible offenders under the Dangerous Drugs Act would in general and unless there were special circumstances receive terms of imprisonment. Neither Borstal nor detention was appropriate, and although Connon was a first offender, and aged only 19, the sentence would be six months’ imprisonment, to be followed by 12 months’ probation. BORSTAL TRAINING A sentence of Borstal training was imposed on Eric Elliot Robinson, aged 19 (Mr R. J. Allan), when he appeared for sentence on a charge of attempted unlawful taking of a car on May 28. Robinson’s period of disqualification from driving was extended for a further year. Mr Allan said that Robinson had a considerable list of convictions, but half of those related to Children’s Court offences. He had been drinking very heavily before the offence, and his recollection of the events were vague. “If you have not got the brains to leave liquor alone when you see it gets you into trouble, then the court will have to put you somewhere where you cannot get liquor or- trouble,” the Magistrate said. DISCHARGED “It is nothing short of a tragedy that you should have ruined your whole career by this petty thieving,” the Magistrate told Wayne Leicester Sendali, aged 19, a student (Mr R. L. Kerr), who was appearing for sentence on a charge of theft on June 1. Sendali Was discharged without conviction under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice Act, and was ordered to pay £lO towards the cost of the prosecution. Mr Kerr said that Sendall’s future career had been ended by the offence. For five minutes of foolishness and 10s, he had sacrificed his chances of being a teacher. Refusing an application for the suppression of Sendall’s name, the Magistrate said that in such a ease of petty thieving, every student at the Teachers’ College came under suspicion, and because of that, suppression would be refused. DRUNKENNESS Paul Graham Sinclair, aged 34, a truck driver, pleaded guilty t» a charge that on June 16 at Lyttelton he was found drunk In London street. He ad mltted being convicted of a similar offence on February 25 at Lyttelton. He was convicted and fined £2. On a charge that on June 16 at Lyttelton he wilfully damaged a plate glass window valued at £lO3 10s, the property of Wallace Sinclair Burmaster, he elected trial by jury and was remanded on bail till June 23. CHARGE DISMISSED Wayne Lindsay Sutton (Mr E. 0. Sullivan) pleaded not guilty to a charge that at Brooklands on February 28 he drove a motor-car carelessly. After hearing the prosecution evidence and submissions from Mr Sullivan, the Magistrate dismissed the charge. COSTS ONLY Charged with failing to give way at the intersection of Walma'iri road and Athol terrace on March 16, James Wilson, aged 59, a foreman (Mr P. H. T. Alpers), was convicted and ordered to pay court costs £1 10s and witness's expenses of £l. He pleaded not guilty. OTHiER TRAFFIC CASES

In other traffic cases brought by the police, convictions were entered and penalties imposed as follows, with court costs of £1 10s In each case: Failed to give way: Harry. Len Stack Mitchell. £6; John Russell Mowbray, £7: Malcolm Ross Barnes. £6: Robert Arthur Crosado, £10: William Lindsay McGregor, £5: Brian Arthur Lee. £B, ordered to attend course of traffic lectures: Diana Lorraine McClutchie, £8: Isobel Marie Boyd, £7: Kisagano Joseph Jesseh Mtui, £7: Leonard William Ford, £10: Jean Kathleen Lockwood, £10: Edward John Morton, £10: John plumbridge, £B, licence cancelled for three months; Norma Elizabeth Reid. £4. Careless use: Gordon Leslie McGregor, £7: Helen Hicks, £l2: licence cancelled for three months; Russell Wilfred Nolan, £l2. licence cancelled for three months <no driver’s licence, £5): Ellen Margaret Dance, £6: Barry Desmond Forbes. £8: Basil Thomas George Hanright, £l2, licence cancelled for six months: Terrence Gerald O'Connor, £lO. , Failed to stop after accident: Mary Averill Jackman, £lO. licence * cancelled for

months (failed to ascertain any Injury, costs only).

Opened car door in manner liable to cause injury: Donald Douglas Watt, £4.

No warrant of fitness: Nell Charles Anderson, £1; Kevin Barry Carroll. £1 (no certificate of vehicle registration, £3) Failed to produce driver's licence: Paul Patrick Lennon, £l. (Before Mr H. J. Evans, S.M.) CARELESS USE Alistair Clifford Wilson, aged 22, a police constable (Mr D. C. Lee), was convicted and fined £6 on a charge of driving a motor-vehicle carelesly at the intersection of Moorhouse avenue and Lincoln road about 4 p.m. on March 14. He pleaded not guilty. IMPRISONED “You have a long and bad record.” the Magistrate told George Hamilton, aged 35, unemployed (Mr R. G. Blunt), when he appeared for sentence on charges that on April 15. and twice on May 9 he unlawfully interfered with a motor-vehicle and that on May 17 he was deemed to be a rogue and vagabond in that he frequented a public place with felonious Intent and that on May 9 he stole a change purse and money of a total value of £5 ss. On one of the charges of unlawfully interfering with a motor-car, the Magistrate convicted and imprisoned Hamilton for two months to be followed by 18 months' probation, with the special probation conditions that he live and work where directed by the probation officer, that he take out a prohibition order and that he make restitution of £5. On the other charges Hamilton was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence within 12 months if called on. DESERTED SHIP Alfred Johnson, aged 33, a seaman, was convicted, fined £l5, ordered to pay solicitor's costs of £3 3s and ordered to be detained for deportation under the provisions of the Shipping and Seamen Act and the Immigration Restriction Act when he appeared for sentence on a charge that at Auck-

land on November 26 be deserted from the overseas sbip, Hudson Deep.

FINED £8 Geoffrey James Nee, aged 47, a sales representative (Mr M. G. Glue), pleaded not guilty to a charge of careless use of a motor-vehicle on Papanul road on April 6. He was convicted and fined £B. The charge arose from a collision between Nee and a motor-cyclist. The Magistrate said it was “clear the blame lay with the defendant.” (Before Mr G. A. Nicholls, S.M.) FAILED TO STOP

Kenneth John Ackroyd, aged 18, an insurance trainee (Mr S. G. Erber), pleaded not guilty to a charge that on April 18 in Cathedra! square he failed to stop when signalled by a police constable. He was convicted and fined £lO. Ackroyd pleaded guilty to charges that on April 28 and April 29 he carried a pillion passenger on his scooter when his licence did not permit him to do so. He was convicted on both charges and on the first was fined £3 10s and on the second he was fined £7 10s and disqualified from driving for three months. CHARGE DISMISSED Robert Albert Putze, aged 53, a cleaning contractor (Mr A. Hearn), pleaded not guilty to a charge that on February 7 at the Intersection of Fitzgerald avenue and Armagh street he used a motor-car carelessly. The Magistrate dismissed the charge after the completion of the prosecution evidence. CARELESS USE On a charge of careless driving in Annex road on December 13, Leslie Henry Bennett, aged 17. an apprentice motor mechanic (Mr A. Hearn), was convicted and fined £7 10s and disqualified from driving for three months. He pleaded not guilty. (Before Mr K. H. J. Headlfen, S.M.) DISMISSED A charge against Noel Alexander Parsloe, aged 45, a lecturer organiser (Mr J. R. Milligan), of failing to notify change of ownership of a motor-vehicle was dismissed. He pleaded not guilty.