MAGISTRATE’S COURT Girls Admit Obtaining Goods By False Pretences

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31768, 27 August 1968, Page 7

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Girls Admit Obtaining Goods By False Pretences

Two young women who pleaded guilty to charges ot obtaining goods by false pretences were remanded for sentence until September 9 by Mr H. J. Evans, SM., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

One woman pleaded guilty to 10 charges of dishonestly obtaining goods valued at $182.35 and the other to six charges, involving goods valued at $105.65.

The police prosecutor (Detective ' Sergeant R. G. McMeeking) said that during the last few months each of the women charged goods, mostly clothing, to the accounts of customers by misrepresenting herself as the daughter of the customer. The stores concerned were J. Ballantyne and Company, Ltd, Beath and Company, Ltd, D.LC., Ltd, and Hay’s, Ltd.

The prosecutor said the women had co-operated in the recovery of the clothing but most of it had been worn and it was considered restitution would amount to $81.44 from each.

He said the women were unable to find jobs in April and their money was running out so they began acquiring clothing by charging It to the names of persons they knew had accounts at the stores. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION

OF REVOLVER

Rodney Maxwell Woods, aged 21, unemployed, was fined $l2 on a charge of having possession of a 22 calibre revolver except for a lawful proper purpose at Bluff. He pleaded guilty. Detective Sergeant MeMeekIng said that on August 23 at Bluff a youth, aged 17, was found by the police to be in possession of a 22 calibre revolver. It had originally been a starting pistol, sold for sporting purposes, but had been converted so that live .22 ammunition could be fired from it A new, longer barrel had been fitted tn the weapon. The youth had stated that the revolver had been sold to him -by Woods for $4O.

When seen by the police at Christchurch, Woods said he had showed the starting pistol to the youth who had offered to buy it on condition that it was altered to fire live ammunition. He accepted a deposit of $lO from the youth and extended the firing chambers and replaced the barrel with a longer one from an old rifle.

On August 18 Woods left the weapon with an acquaintance for delivery to the youth and subsequently received a

further $3O in full payment He said that before leaving the revolver for the youth he had used it to fire .22 blank ammunition. Woods said he had altered the revolver and sold it because he was getting married and needed the money, said Detective Sergeant McMeeking. The Magistrate made an order for the revolver to be forfeited. STRUCK GIRL

Clare Anne Googin, aged 17, unemployed, was fined $5 on a charge of assaulting Christine Rosemary Langley Googin pleaded guilty. Detective Sergeant McMeeking said about 8.30 p.m. on Sunday, June 23, Googin was a passenger in a car being driven along Riccarton Avenue. Three youths and two other girls were also in the vehicle.

The car was stopped alongside Miss Langley, who was walking home. She was invited to get into the car but refused. Miss Langley continued walking and was followed by the, car which stopped beside her further up the road. The occupants got out and Googin stood in front of Miss Langley, and when one of the other passengers called out to Googin to hit the girl she struck her across the face with the back of her hand.

When seen by the police Googin admitted the assault but could give no reason for it Miss Langley was not injured except for some minor bruising to her face. She was not known to Googin or any of the other persons in the car, said Detective Sergeant McMeeking. BREACH OF PROBATION Linia Porowini Nepia, aged 21, a home help, was fined $25 on a charge of breach of probation in that on October 11 at Christchurch she failed to notify her change of address. The probation officer said Nepia voluntarily gave herself up to the police yesterday morning when she learned a warrant was out for her arrest. FINED $l5O William Noel Edward Te Kahu, aged 23, a machinist, was convicted and fined $l4O on a charge of driving in Colombo Street on August 24 while under the influence of drink or dnisi, and was .convicted and fined $lO on a charge of careless driving on the same date. He pleaded guilty. The defendant was disqualified from driving foif three years. Detective Sergeant McMeeking said the defendant failed to control his car while making a turn from Moorhouse Avenue into Colombo Street about 2.15 p.m. The car skidded on to the incorrect side of the road and struck another vehicle head on. No-one was injured. The defendant admitted he had been drinking steadily since 6 a m. that day. He was later certified by a doctor as unfit to drive.

DANGEROUS SPEED On a charge of driving In Wainoni Road on April 6 at a speed that might have been dangerous, Bonnie Tauwhare, a workman, was convicted and fined $5O and disqualified from driving for 15 months. On a charge of driving in Pages Road on October 9. 1966, at a speed

that might have been dangerous, he was convicted and fined 120 and disqualified from driving for one year. He was convicted and fined 115 on a charge ot obstructing a traffic officer In the execution of his duty on April 6, and fined 15 on a charge of falling to produce his driver's licence on the same day. He pleaded guilty to all charges. Traffic Sergeant H. J. McMorran said the defendant’s speed was checked at 50 miles an hour in Pages Boad, and between 45 and 50 miles an hour In Wainoni Road. He gave a false name and address when stopped by the traffic officer in The delay in bringing the proceedings to Court was caused by the difficulty experienced in serving summonses on the defendant. He was finally arrested on a warrant. UNDER INFLUENCE Kevin Henry Flutey, aged 23. a machine operator (Hr M J. Glue) was convicted and fined IM and disqualified from driving for three years on a charge of driving in Worcester Street on August 17 while under the influence of drink or drugs. He pleaded guilty. Detective Sergeant McMeeking said the defendant’s erratic driving eame to the attention of a traffic officer about 10.20 p.m. The defendant was later certified by a doctor as unfit to drive. PEERED THROUGH WINDOW A man, whose name was suppressed. was fined 120 on a charge of peering into a window of a dwelling in Gloucester Street by night. He pleaded guilty. TRAFFIC CHARGES On traffic charges brought by the police, fines were imposed as follows, with Court costs of 15 on each charge:— No driver's licence: Samuel Manawatu, 37; Peter James Graham, 120, and prohibited from obtaining a licence for three months. Failed to give way. Carl Clifford Palmer, costs; Brian Joseph Collins, 319. DISMISSED A charge against Terry James Large (Mr L. M. O'Reilly) of operating a motor vehicle in Canon Street on April 26 with insufficient lights was dismissed. (Before Mr W. F. Brown, S.M.) FINED 360 FOR ASSAULT Desmond James Hunt, aged 17, unemployed, was fined 360 when he appeared for sentence on a charge of assaulting Daniel Patrick O’Connell on May 19. Mr P. F. Tempero, for the accused, said the assault had been provoked by the use of obscene language. Hunt's mother had left home and his father had done his best to bring up seven children. Hunt had to leave school before he was 15 to look after his brothers and sisters. He had formed undesirable associations but had recently moved to another area of Christchurch. He had recently been found a job by the Labour Department but when his prospective employer read of Ms appearance in Court he refused to give him the job. Hunt was on probation and bad not paid fines of 184.25. "Your explanation for the assault is quite Inadequate," the Magistrate said. "I am not impressed by your late arrival at Court and it appears that you will have to learn to change your attitude towards authority." (Before Mr P. L. Molineaux, S.M.) GUILTY OF BURGLARY Peter Kaimoana, aged 29, unemployed. was remanded In custody to August 29 for sentence on a charge of burglary of the premises of Basil A. Fitzpatrick, and Company, Ltd, wine and spirits merchants, 73 Victoria Street. Rangtora. He pleaded not guilty and was represented by Mr R. J. Allen.