MAGISTRATES COURT $90 Fine For Driving Under Influence

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32010, 10 June 1969, Page 10

MAGISTRATES COURT $90 Fine For Driving Under Influence

When a traffic officer saw a car being driven In Little Blenheim Road with no lights at 10.30 p.m. on May 30, he followed it and saw it narrowly miss a head-on collision with another car, Sergeant G. F. Davidson told Mr P. L. Molineaux, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. James Colin Buckley, aged 47, a civil servant, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence of drink or drugs. He was represented by Mr D. M. Palmer. Sergeant Davidson said that Buckley’s car drove into Wainui Street and Elizabeth Street The traffic officer, using his flashing red light and sounding bis horn, drew alongside and signalled Buckley to stop. When he did so, 10ft from the kerb, the officer got out, but Buckley drove off before he could speak to him. The officer again stopped Buckley, and parked his car in front of Buckley’s. As he got out, Buckley drove forward into the patrol car, but caused no damage, said Sergeant Davidson.

Buckley was unsteady on his feet, and smelt of liquor. He was taken to the police station and certified by a doctor as unfit to drive. His blood showed a count of 215 at 11.25 p.m. Two breath tests, taken at 10.20 p.m. and 10.45 p.m., also gave positive results. Mr Palmer said the accused had poor co-ordination, and the doctor’s report showed him to be quite normal in many respects. The whole incident was most out of character for Buckley. The Magistrate said that in the circumstances he would impose a slightly lighter fine than usual, of $9O, and disqualify him from driving for three years. Medical expenses of $6.30 were also imposed. THREE CHARGES

Three young men who went to the nurses’ home at the Jubilee Home, Woolston, to see a nurse at 10.30 p.m. on April 28, were refused admission but played about in the driveway, shouting and dancing, Sergeant Davidson said. Michael Keith Roberts, aged 17, a process worker, dropped his trousers to his knees and indecently exposed himself in the sight of two nurse-aids, he said.

Roberts, who pleaded not gruilty to a charge of committing an indecent act with Intent to insult or offend, was represented by Mr L. M. O’Reilly. Kathleen Ena Churchill, aged 22, a nurse-aid, said she was in bed when she heard a car come up the drive. Three youths got out and banged on the front door of the home. They then “yelled, screamed, and carried on” for some time. She called out to the girl in the next room, who came in. They locked the door and turned out the light Smoking cigarettes, they watched out the window. After 10 to 20 minutes the youths returned to their car. The girls telephoned the night sister, who told them to lock the front door while she telephoned the police. As she returned to the window, Miss Churchill said, she saw a youth, who she identified as the defendant, drop his trousers to his knees. This was done three times, and he laughed and jumped about for some time more before leaving in the car. The police arrived and stopped them. Margaret Ann Taylor gave evidence of similarly seeing the defendant, who had shoul-der-length blond hair, expose himself.

“You did nothing but make a fool of yourself, and you certainly didn’t entertain the girls,” the Magistrate said to Roberts, who was fined $3O. On another charge of stealing a handbag from Margaret Ann Furlong at the Plainsman night club on May 11, Roberts was fined $5O. Evidence was given that Roberts had been seen leaving the club with a duffel bag. Miss Furlong later reported the loss of her bag to the owner. Leo Jensen, the proprietor of the Plainsman, said he and an employee drove to Cathedral Square, where they found Roberts at a taxi stand. He accompanied them back and willingly returned the bag, freely admitting taking it On a third charge, of being found in a bar, Roberts was fined $lO.

“I sincerely hope that you have got sense enough to make an attempt to make something of yourself,” the Magistrate told Roberts. “If you attract more attention to yourself by these means, you will throw away any chance of leading a good life.” BURGLARY Ronald Waddel, aged 19, a cook, was convicted and re manded on bail to June 16 on a charge of breaking and entering the premises of Shephern and Kime, Ltd, on June 6. He pleaded guilty. The police visited Waddel’s premises and found a number of screwdrivers, stopwatches, and other property, which he admitted taking from Shephern and Kime, Ltd, said Sergeant J. 0. Burrell. He entered the building by removing glass from a window which he put back when he left. All the property stolen, worth 125, had been recovered. UNFIT TO DRIVE Vernon Laurence Craw, aged 35, a truck driver (Mr J. B. Stringer) wa» convicted and re-

manded on bail to June 16 for sentence when he pleaded guilty to a charge of driving in Sawyers Arms Road on June 2 while under the influence of drink or drugs. Sergeant Burrell said the defendant’s car struck another car parked in Sawyers Arms Road. The defendant was later certified by a doctor as unfit to drive. The defendant’s blood sample gave 230 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. ESCAPED On charges of escaping from the custody of Constable G. W. Stock on June 8. and using obscene language in Cathedral Square on the same date, Frederick Llewelyn Williams, aged 19, an unemployed farmhand, was convicted and remanded on bail to June 16 for sentence. He pleaded guilty to both charges. Sergeant Burrell said the defendant used the language complained of outside the Chief Post Office. On his way to the police station after his arrest he pushed his girlfriend against the constable and ran off. When apprehended two hours later the defendant said he did not want to be locked up. REMANDED IN CUSTODY Alfred John Oldham, aged 31, an unemployed labourer, was convicted and remanded in* custody to June 16 for sentence when he pleaded guilty to charges of failing to report at the periodic detention work centre on May 30. and theft of a guitar valued at $36 on March 24. He elected trial by jury on a charge of breaking and entering a Forest Service hut at Balmoral on June 6. Sergeant Davidson said the defendant took the guitar from a house in Tuam Street. He later sold it to a dealer for $5. STOLE COKE Peter Michael Williams, aged 21, a window cleaner, was convicted and remanded on bail to June 16 for sentence on a charge of stealing a bag of coke worth $1.03 from H. J. and J. B. Hughes, Ltd, at Lyttelton on June 8. He pleaded guilty.

Sergeant Burrell said that at 4.50 p.m. Williams was seen climbing over a sft gate with a bag of coke.

OBSCENE LANGUAGE On a charge of using obscene language in Yarmouth Street on June 7. Gloria Dorothy Breach, aged 20, an assembler, was convicted and fined $25. She pleaded guilty. Sergeant Burrell said the defendant was under the influence of drink at the time.

MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES In miscellaneous prosecutions brought by the police department convictions were entered and fines imposed as follows, with costs of $5 in each case:-

Failed to give way to the right: George Gustave Brown, $2O; Rosalie Mary Kingston, $l5. Careless use: M. Croat, $2O; R. W. Ash, $lO (no driver’s licence, $6 and disqualified for three months). Minor found in bar: S. J. P. Garrett, $4; P. B. McMenAmin, $4; A. J. Mayberry, $8; G. A. Melrose, $8; G. A. Toon, $B. (Before Mr H. J. Evans, S.M.) PROBATION, FINES Arthur Robinson, aged 17, a trainee linesman (Mr R. N. Wilkes), appearing for sentence on charges of theft of a saddle worth $3O and receiving a stolen car radio, was placed on probation for 18 months and fined $4O on each charge.

He was also ordered to live and work as directed and to take out a prohibition order, not to associate with persons not approved by the probation officer. and to pay'B9 restitution. The Magistrate said that if it had not been for some favourable matters In the probation officer’s report Robinson would have been sent to Borstal.

DISQUALIFIED DRIVER Appearing for sentence on a charge of driving while disqualified on May 18, Graham Luther Edgeworth, aged 18, unemployed (Mr J. E. Butler) was fined 1100, placed on probation for two years, ordered to live and work where directed, ordered not to own a motor vehicle and disqualified from driving for another year until January, 1972. On a charge of permitting an unlicensed person to drive on April 8 he was convicted and discharged. The Magistrate said it was Edgeworth s fourth conviction for driving while disqualified and he deserved to be imprisoned but a number of facjustified some other penalty.

SUPPRESSED . A man, whose name was suppressed <Mr B. McClelland) was convicted on a charge of indecent assault on a man aged 28 on April 6 in a reserved decision given yesterday. The hearing was last Friday. He was remanded on bail to June 17 for sentence.

The Magistrate said the other person involved pleaded guilty to a similar charge and was convicted on April 30. Because of this he was regarded in law as an accomplice, but his evidence had been adequately corroborated by other testimony.