MAGISTRATE’S COURT Man Fined $l5 For Pretending To Be Policeman

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31772, 31 August 1968, Page 17

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Man Fined $l5 For Pretending To Be Policeman

A naa wbo told another driver it would do no good to report an accident to the police because he himself was a police officer was fined $l5 in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday on a charge of pretending to be a member of the police. Mr P. L. Molineaux, S.M., was on the bench.

The man, Melvin Samuel Bennett, aged 28, a butcher, pleaded guilty. On a further charge of failing to stop after an accident he was fined $5O and disqualified from driving for three months, and for failing to give way he was fined $2O and disqualified from driving for one month, the term to run cumulatively. He also pleaded guilty to these charges.

Detective Sergeant R. G. McMeeking said Bennett was involved in a minor collision in St Asaph Street at 1.5 am. on July 23, but did not stop.

The other driver gave ehase and after three miles caught up with Bennett and stopped him. Bennett then told him he was an off-duty policeman, and when asked for proof of this said his Identification was in his uniform.

Bennett’s counsel, Mr G. T. Mahon, explained that Bennett, although a man who did not normally drink, had been drinking a little beforehand. He said Bennett had also been up since 4 a.m. the previous day and was so tired he hardly knew what he was saying. Sentencing Bennett, the Magistrate said he gave this extraordinary excuse about being a police officer and this reflected no credit on him at all. He said the offence was either very serious or very silly, but be regarded it as very silly and fined him accordingly. CHARGE WITHDRAWN

A charge of assault against Bruce Edward Annan, aged 25, a sheet metal worker, was withdrawn by the police when the complainant, Francis Colin Ferguson, said he would accept an apology and payment for repairs to his dentures from Annan. Annan (Mr P. D. Hinchliff) pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault and also to a charge of using obscene language in the publie bar of the Lancaster Park Hotel on June 1. He was convicted on the obscene language charged, fined $6 and ordered to pay witnesses’ expenses of $B.

Mr Ferguson said he asked Annan to put a stool baek, and Annan punched him in the mouth. He told Annan that “that was not a verv gentlemanly way to deal with the matter,” and received another blow, which broke his top plate.

Mr Ferguson said Atman later telephoned and offered to pay for any damage done, but he had heard nothing since.

The Magistrate then asked Mr Ferguson if he would be satisfied if Annan apologised and paid for the damage, and Mr Ferguson said he would. Mr Hinchliff, after conferring with his client, then said Annan would do as suggested. Sergeant J. D. Farrow then asked for the charge to be withdrawn. HIT POLICE CAR A man who ran into the rear of a police car in Durham Street on July 31 was fined $l4 on a charge of careless use. Francis Burdon. aged 55. a

painting contractor was represented "by Mr M. Z Clue and pleaded guilty. Detective Sergeant McMeeking Mid only minor damage was caused. OFFENSIVE MATTER A man who urinated on the trousers of another man while he was standing on the embankment at Lancaster park on July U. during the Rugby test between New Zealand and "L nce ’ , w * s discharged under Section 42 of the Criminal JusUce Act, on a charge of casting offensive matter.

The man. whose name was Suppressed, pleaded guilty through Mr L. M. O'Reilly. Counsel said the need of his client was pressing and that he did not mean to urinate on the other man, but that it was impossible for him to move to a toilet. CHARGES ADMITTED Brian Robert Welsh, aged 18. David John Connor, aged 24 (Mr R. F. B. Perry), and Kevin Jones Maxwell, aged 18 (Mr D. H. Stringer), workmen, pleaded guilty to a Joint charge of steal-

ing an electric razor and guitar worth $ll9 between June 9 and June 12.

They were convicted and remanded on bail to September 6 for sentence.

Connor also pleaded guilty to charges of stealing a postal warrant for $11.75 and forging a signature on it. He was convicted on both charges and remanded for sentence.

The three defendants had been living with the owner of the razor and guitar, said Detective Sergeant McMeeking. They had no money so they stole the property and sold it to a second-hand dealer for a total of $l9 and shared the money. Connor told the police the postal warrant belonged to his girl friend and that he had cashed It for her. He later admitted cashing the warrant in a shop and spending the money. SUSPENDED SENTENCE “This was a domestic matter. Tempers were lost and blows exchanged, but it is not a case for discharge under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice Act,” said the Magistrate when a man whose name was suppressed (Mr M. J. Glue) pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting his wife. He was convicted and ordered to appear for sentence If called on within six months. OBSTRUCTED POLICE Charged with wilfully obstructing the police on August 11, Roger James Simpson, aged 19, an apprentice carpenter, was convicted and fined $25. He pleaded guilty.

Detective Sergeant McMeeking said Simpson had been told several times to leave the vicinity of a dance but he As

it was felt a breach of the peace could be caused if Simpson was left in the locality he was arrested.

BENCH WARRANTS ISSUED A bench warrant was issued for the arrest ol Bernard Francis Basan, aged 41, unemployed, when he failed to appear on a Charge of driving in Camden Street while under the influence of drink or drugs on August 15

A bench warrant was Issued for the arrest of Geoffrey Arthur Proctor, aged 16, factory worker, when he failed to appear on summons to attend periodic detention.

STOLE GROCERIES Violet Watson, a part-time warehouse worker, was fined 520 when she pleaded guilty to K e fJ in s fifoeerles valued at 84.88 from Hay’s Northlands

She was represented by Mr S. G. Erber.

OTHER CASES Offenders In other cases were penalised as follows: Proceeded from stop sign before way was clear: Malcolm Durham, 525 and disqualified for two months.

Careless use: Maurice Leslie Clark, costs and disqualified from driving for three months: Dianne Theresa Eplha, 820 and disqualified for three months (no driver's licence, 815 and disqualified for three months as from September 6). Failing to give way: Ray Robert Harrison, 820

No warrant of fitness: Kevin Brian Sutherland. *4, Graham John Muir, 52. Minor drank in public place: Kevin Gaiiaghbr, 88: Kerry Gallagher, $B.