MAGISTRATE’S COURT Grocery Manager Stole £850 From Employers

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31385, 2 June 1967, Page 12

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Grocery Manager Stole £850 From Employers

A man who had been manager of two grocery stores for a period of 17 months was convicted on a charge of theft as a servant of £B5O, before Mr H. J. Evans, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court in Christchurch yesterday. Anthony John Loftus, aged 27, a steward (Mr G. T. Mahon), was charged that between October 10, 1964, and May 31, 1966, while a servant of George and Bessie Elkington, he stole £B5O. He was remanded until June 8, on bail, for a probation officer’s report. Sergeant A. D. Stevenson said that in December, 1966, George Elkington had complained to the police that Loftus, who had been managing two grocery stores owned by Mr Elkington, while he and his wife were out of New Zealand, had been taking money. After investigation, Loftus had admitted taking the money. He had turned his gains into assets and not squandered the money. “Loftus said he had just succumbed to temptation,” said Sergeant Stevenson. CHARGES ADMITTED A youth, who was found by a constable in Seaview road, New Brighton, in the early hours of the morning, had a folded sugar sack stuffed up the front of his jersey and a jemmy concealed inside his trousers. He told the police that the jemmy was too cold to carry in his hand and that he was going to a friend’s place to get potatoes, said Sergeant .Stevenson. Kevin James Wright, aged 18, a bricklayer (Mr M. J. Glue) was remanded on bail to June 8 for sentence on two charges of being a rogue and a vagabond in that he frequented Seaview road with felonious intent and in that he was in possession of housebreaking implements. He pleaded guilty to both charges. ASSAULTED FOREMAN Veil Meradlth, aged 40, a metal worker (Mr J. K. Fuimaono), was convicted and remanded on ball until June 8 on charges of wilful damage and assault on April 14. He was charged with wilfully damaging 38 saucepans, valued at £25, the property of W. T. Murray, Ltd., and assaulting George John Petrovics. Sergeant Stevenson said that at 4 p.m. on April 14 the works foreman of W. T. Murray, Ltd.. Petrovics, told Meradlth he had been dismissed and to get his wages. After getting hie pay Meradlth struck Petrovics, who was bending down at a machine. His left cheek and eye were bruised. Petrovics was dazed and tried to push Meradlth away to avoid the machine, which was revolving. Meradlth started throwing saucepans at Petrovics. The accused took hold of the foreman and forced him backwards, knocking him on to the concrete floor. As a result of the incident saucepans valued at £25 were damaged. The accused continued to push the foreman until they were on the street, where other employees Intervened, Sergeant Stevenson said. BOTH CONVICTED Joseph Riley Grace, aged 27, a tractor driver (Mr J. W. Dalmer), and Tommy Parata, aged 24, unemployed, were both convicted and remanded in custody until June 8 for a probation officer's report on charges that they broke and entered Eastern Dealers, 350 Cashel street, on May 19. Sergeant Stevenson said goods valued at £lB 10s had been stolen. The prisoners had been interviewed on May 31 and after a search of premises on Fitzgerald avenue the stolen goods were found. They admitted that after 8 p.m., having climbed on to the roof and broken a back window, they took the goods from a showcase. “Both men said they were finding work hard to get and could not live oh the cash they had In hand.” said Sergeant Stevenson. FOURTH CONVICTION Colin Malcolm Hardaker, aged 28, a farm labourer (Mr K. N. Hampton), was convicted on charges of driving a motor-car while disqualified, knowingly supplying false Information, and having no wararnt of fitness, in Hargood street and Ferry road on May 3. He had three previous convictions for driving while disqualified. He pleaded not guilty to the first charge and guilty to both others. The Magistrate remanded him on ball until June 8 for a probation officer’s report. Evidence in the case was heard on Monday before it was adjourned. •■‘lt must be clear that there is some basis' to bis belief that ' he was no longer disqualified,” said Mr Hampton. “This Is outside the usual run of disqualified drivers.” SHOPLIFTING ’ Two girls, both aged ,20, who were seen acting in a suspicious manner near a display of dresses In a shop, were followed into the street and one of them was found to have a dress which had not been paid for. Sergeant Stevenson said. The two accused, whose names.were suppressed, pleaded guilty to a joint charge of stealing a dress, valued at £9 12s fid, on May 19.. The charge was adjourned to June 8 for sentence. Messrs R. G. Blunt and S. G. Erber appeared for the accused. NAME SUPPRESSED A woman, whose name was suppressed, was remanded on ball to Juno 8 for sentence on a charge of obtaining a benefit from the Social Security Department by making false state-

ments. She pleaded guilty and was represented by Mr D. M. Palmer. j Sergeant 1 Stevenson said the accused obtained £B3 overpayment by Stating that she was unemployed when she was working. she had three young children and was separated from her husband. She told the police that the money she received firom the benefit was insufficient to support her and her children. The money had since bean repaid. FINED £2O John Stophen Maddock, aged 30, was fined £2O and ordered to make restitution of £7. when he appeared for sentence on a charge ’M stealing a motor-car battery, valued at £7, the property of W. G. Redmond, on April 8 at Rakala. DISQUALIFIED Gavin nomas, aged 29, a driver (Mr J. W. Dalmer) was fined £l5 and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for three months on a charge of. failing to give way at a pedestrian crossing on Mccarton avenue on March 31. | FINED £l3 Roger Rinssell King, aged 46, a manager (Mr D. M. Palmer), was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver's licence for one month and fined £lO on a charge of falling to give way to a pedestrian on a pedestrian crossing at the corner of Fitzgerald avenue and Worcester street on March 11. He was fined £3 for falling to give 319 s name and address to the pedestrian. King pleaded not gtolty to both charges. FINED £lO On a change of failing to give way to dhe right, William Richard Ayres was fined £lO and his licence was cancelled for slz weeks. (Before Mr E. S. J. Crutchley, S.M.) THEFT CHARGE DISMISSED The defendant had been frank when Interviewed by the police, but "frantkness can also be the hallmark; of the accomplished criminal,*” said the Magistrate when David Tomlins, aged 26, a workman (Mr A. P. C. Tipping). pleaded not guilty to a charge at stealing a suit, a suitcase, and a pair of shoes to a total value of £36 on April 18. He did not accept all the defendant’s evidence, but “if he la able to raise sufficient matters to create doubt, he would be entitked to be acquitted,” the Magistrate said in dismissing the ebarge. Tomlina said he only borrowed the clothes to wear while looking for a job, but was not able to return them immediately because he could not get permission from the doctor at Sunnyside Hospital, where he had entered as a voluntary patient, to leave, apart to go to his place of employment. STOLE PURSE “One strong point In the defendant’s favour Is that he didn't throw the purse away, so It must have eventually been found. It leaves a doubt about the defendant’s original intention, although money once taken and' spent couldn't be returned. Technically he is guilty of theft,” said the Magistrate when convicting Patrick Wil11am Hammond, aged 45, unem-

ployed, of stealing a purse and contents valued at £3 10s, the property of Marte Duffell, on Hammond gave evidence when the hearing continued. Prosecution witnesses had been heard at a previous sitting. For Hammond, Mr L. M. O’Reilly said it was not the normal type of theft. Hammond was fined £5 and ordered to make restitution of £3 10s, a penalty which was appropriate “in view of the defendant’s position at the moment,*' said the Magistrate. On another charge of being idle and disorderly in that he had insufficient lawful means of support on April IS, Hammond was remanded until July 1. EIGHT CHARGES The defendant had placed a sink and a shower in his detached garage and had moved, in, contrary to his permit, said Mr G. R. Lascelles for the Christchurch City Council. James Berkhout, a landlord, pleaded guilty through Mr W. S. Smith, to eight charges, seven of which related to constructing a lean-to in breach of regulations and without permits. The lean-to buildings were unsightly and a bad fire risk, said Mr Lascelles. Berkhout had been warned in 1964 about using the garage as living quarters. Mr Smith said Berkhout was a Dutchman, and did not fully understand the regulations. The lean-to buildings had now been dismantled, and the defendant had vacated the garage. Berkhout was fined a total of £26. CARELESS USE Walter Jameson Finlay, aged 42 (Mr G. R. Lascelles), was fined £5 for carelessly using a motor-vehicle on Amyes road on May 2. Finlay, who pleaded not guilty, said he had been blinded by lights from an oncoming car. MISCELLANEOUS CHARGES Miscellaneous charges with convictions entered (Court costs £1 10s on each charge) were:— Placed rubbish in a public place: Frank McWatt, £lO. Erected car-port without permit: John Clive Hinton, £3 (failed to pull down building within required time, £2). Exceeded 30 miles an hour in tunnel without a safety helmet: Alan Walter Barnes, £2; Barry Phillip Ormsby, £2 (failed to produce driver’s licence, £5). Disregarded traffic lights in tunnel: Frank Clifford Raven, £5. Unlicensed TV set: James Harrington, £2. TRAFFIC OFFENCES (Before Mr K. H. J. Headifen, S.M.) On charges brought by the Christchurch City Council traffic department fines were imposed as follows with costs of fl 10s on each charge:— Overtook vehicle stopped at pedestrian crossing: Archibald Brooker Worsfold, £B. Exceeded 30 miles an hour: Johannes Lambertus Hendriks, £7. Careless driving: Frederick Walter Goold, £6. Failed to keep to the left: Barri Michael Twort, £5. Parked in time expired metered apace: Thomas Gratton Tansey, costs only.