MAGISTRATE’S COURT Gaol On Fifth Conviction For Disqualified Driving

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31730, 13 July 1968, Page 16

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Gaol On Fifth Conviction For Disqualified Driving

A man who was appearing for sentence on his fifth conviction of driving while disqualified was sentenced to six months imprisonment by Mr W. F. Brown, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Ross Allan Houliston, aged 31, unemployed (Mr K. N. Hampton), was appearing for sentence on charges of driving while disqualified, exceeding 40 miles an hour, obstructing a traffic officer, and operating a vehicle in a condition which was likely to cause injury. “This is the fifth time you

have appeared for driving while disqualified since 1966, and the sentence of the Court must show the displeasure with which your conduct is viewed,” the Magistrate said. “You were driving a car in Dyers Road on June 13, which was not safe to be on the road; the steering wheel could be turned for about 270 degrees before the front wheels turned, the foot brake would not work unless it was pumped several times, and the hand brake would barely work. Added to this was the fact that you exceeded the speed limit and when stopped by a traffic officer, you gave

a false name and thus obstructed inquiries into the matter,” the Magistrate said. On the four charges Houliston was fined a total of $4O, had the period of his disqualification extended by two years to January 31, 1975, and was sentenced to prison for six months. For Houliston, Mr Hampton said his client had an obsession for driving ears. “The only time he can feel relaxed is when he is behind the wheel,” Mr Hampton said. CHARGES DISMISSED Two charges of assaulting police officers against a man whose name was suppressed (Mr R. C. Kerr) were dismissed. The Magistrate said he reluctantly took the view that in the heat of the moment and trying to do the right thing the constables had not acted in the execution of their duty. “The Court sympathises greatly with the two constables who were called to a house at night to find the wife, in a distressed state, on the street,’’ said the Magistrate. He held that the constables had reasonable cause to force an entry into the house where the defendant and his two children were. “But this does not dispose of the matter,” said the Magistrate. "The defendant and his children were found on a bed watching television. The wife brushed past a constable, seized the children, and took them out of the room. A constable prevented the defendant following his wife and a fight ensued. “Once it was found that the children were safe the constables’ function had come to an end,” said the Magistrate. “The constables did not have the time to weigh the matter up with the legal nicety that the Court has time to do.” PERIODIC DETENTION Appearing for sentence on a charge of driving while disqualified on April 4, James William Lewis, aged 18, a painter, was sentenced to the periodic detention centre for six months and the period of his disqualification was extended for one year.

On a charge of having no warrant of fitness he was fined S 6, and for having no pillion passenger footrests on his motor-cycle he was fined |4. The charge of driving while disqualified was prevalent in Christchurch and seemed to occur in every traffic list, said the Magistrate. The offence amounted to complete defiance of a court order. BORSTAL Borstal training Was imposed on John Francis Heydon, aged 20, unemployed (Mr K. N. Hampton), when he appeared for sentence on a charge of breaking and entering the premises of Douglas Footwear, 89 Gasson Street, on June 21, and a charge of being a rogue and a vagabond in that he possessed house-breaking implements on June 10. DANGEROUS SPEED Pleading guilty to a charge of driving on the Main South Road, Sockburn, at a speed which might have been dangerous on June 29, Charles Kenyon, aged 18, a soldier, was fined $2O and disqualified from driving for one year. (Before Mr P. L. Molineaux, S.M.) BURGLARY On a charge of breaking and entering Croydon Motors, Ltd, on June 28, John McGee, aged 38, a baker, was convicted and remanded in custody to July 19 for sentence. He pleaded guilty. Sergeant V. F. Townshend said a security patrol officer found the premises had been entered. Property valued at $995.52 was missing, and damage amounted to $2OO. A safe had been taken downstairs from an upstairs office, and left unopened. The defendant 'was found asleep on the kitchen floor of a nearby house. He admitted being responsible for the burglary but would not disclose the names of other persons with him. Sergeant Townshend said McGee had 34 previous convictions for serious offences. FORGERY AND THEFT Charged with theft of a wallet and money and forging a Post Office Savings Bank pass book, Michael Leslie Saussey, aged 22, an unemployed warehouseman, was convicted and remanded on bail to July 19 for sentence. He pleaded guilty to a charge

of stealing the wallet containing $2O from Richard Keith Young on June 13, and forging a pass book to show a credit of $90.49 when it should have been $20.49. On June 14 the complainant reported the theft of his wallet, and the next day Saussey called at the police station and confessed to the theft, said Sergeant J. P. Downes. He had been in the complainant’s company on the day concerned. He denied taking $2O in cash and said there had been only $3 in the wallet. Saussey was Interviewed about alterations to his savings bank pass book. He said he drew money out and had only $5 left in the account, so altered the figures in his book. He was overdrawn by $9.51, for which restitution to the Post Office was asked for. STOLE GOLF BAG Terence Alfred Kitson, aged 38, unemployed, pleaded guilty to stealing a golf bag and equipment, valued at $225, from a garage in a house in Highsted Road between June 29 and 30. and was remanded to July 19 for sentence. He was not represented. STOLE CYCLE For stealing a schoolboy’s bicycle between April 1 and 30, Toupare Heke, aged 24, a driver, was remanded in custody to July 19 for sentence when he pleaded guilty to the charge. REMANDED IN CUSTODY Lindsay Chappell, aged 17. an unemployed workman, was remanded in custody to July 19 for sentence on two charges of attempting to take unlawfully a motor-car on July 11, and theft of a driver’s licence on the same date. He pleaded guilty to all charges. TRAFFIC OFFENCES In police traffic prosecutions convictions were entered and fines imposed as follows: Careless use of a motor vehicle: Graeme Robert Palmer, $l5: Barry Graeme Thomas, $2O, disqualified for three months; Jacobus BleyendaaL $25, disqualified for three months from July 20; David Baden Flutey, $2O, disqualified for two months from July 20. Failed to give way to the right: Mary Adelaide Josephine Hack, $10; Albert Eric Snow,