Constable Admits Theft Of $531

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31678, 14 May 1968, Page 28

Constable Admits Theft Of $531

(New Zealand Press Association)

WHANGAREI, May 13.

A former police constable, Jack Ennis Jones, aged 33, of Kawakawa, pleaded guilty today to two charges of stealing a total of $531.48 from the Justice Department.

Jones was convicted on both charges by Mr R. M. Grant, S.M., and remanded in custody until Wednesday for a probation report and sentence.

Detective Senior-Sergeant L. F. O’Shea said Jones, who became a constable in 1953, had been stationed at Kawa-

kawa since June, 1964. Among his duties were those of bailiff and relieving registrar. Civil debts owed by Jones were discovered early in March and after an inquiry he was suspended on April 19

Detective Senior-Sergeant O’Shea said further investigation revealed that various moneys received by Jones as bailiff were not accounted for. On November 7, 1966, Jones obtained £B3 15s from a man in satisfaction of a civil debt. Jones used this money for his own purposes, in spite of inquiries by the court and the man's solicitor.

Detective Senior-Sergeant O’Shea said Jones had collected varying amounts from persons named in 13 warrants and had also used this money for himself. "In some instances he would issue undated receipts, in others he would not issue receipts, and on at least two occasions he issued dated receipts but altered them to much later dates when presenting them at the Kaikohe Magistrate’s Court,” said Detective Senior-Sergeant O’Shea.

Jones had gone to Kaikohe and had paid off the 13 warrants, totalling $363.98. Detective Senior-Sergeant O’Shea said restitution to the Justice Department would amount to $177.15.