MAGISTRATES COURT Assault On Pensioner bi Hotel Admitted By Young Man

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32059, 6 August 1969, Page 16

MAGISTRATES COURT Assault On Pensioner bi Hotel Admitted By Young Man

lan Leslie McMillan, aged 24, had assaulted a 64-year-old war pensioner suffering from a heart condition without provocation, Mr P. L. Molineaux S.M., was told in the Christchurch Magistrate's Court yesterday. McMillan (Mr L. M. O’Reilly), pleaded guilty to a charge of assault and was remanded in custody to August 12 for sentencing. Sergeant V. F. Townshend said that at 6.30 p.m. on June 19, McMillan was drinking in the public bar of the Woolston Tavern in Ferry Road. He had been in the tgvern for most of the day.

He followed the complainant, Charles Thorne, into the toilet and accused him of making derogatory remarks the night before. When Mr Thorne denied this McMillan assaulted him, punching him in the face and beating him to the floor.

After the assault McMillan left the tavern hurriedly, not even returning to the table where his friends were drinking. As a result of the attack Mr Thorne required 22 stitches to the ear .and others to cuts on his face. He also suffered rib injuries. Mr Thorne was suffering from a heart complaint, said Sergeant Townshend, and McMillan had admitted knowing this. He told police that he had been drinking all day and was upset about his marriage breaking up. He could not explain why he assaulted Mr Thorne, but thought he must have been in a bad mood. Applying for remand on bail, Mr O’Reilly said McMillan appreciated the position he had got himself into and regretted it.

The Magistrate said this was an unprovoked, serious assault and he did not consent to bail. TOOK CAR A man who fell in a ditch after trying to escape police on foot was remanded in custody to . August 12, when he appeared on a charge of unlawfully taking a car on August 2. Mark Valentine Watkins, aged 19, a rubbish collector. pleaded guilty to the charge. Sergeant Townshend said that between 12.55 a.m. and 1.05 a.m. a taxi, valued at $2OOO, was taken from outside a city hotel. The car was later seen by police in Ferry Road and chased into a car park. It was stopped on the footpath at the entrance to the park, but the driver, Watkins, made off on foot. Watkins was found at 3 a m. in Linwood Avenue. He was barefooted and covered in mud. He told police that he was lost and did not know where he had been. His story was later changed, said Sergeant Townshend, and Watkins claimed he had been at a party and was walking home. Watkins finally admitted taking the car and said that he had fallen into a ditch while trying to escape police on foot. BURGLED STORE TWICE Nicholas Albert Gay, a mechanic, aged 45 (Mr M. G. L. Lcughnan), was remanded on bail to August 12 for sentence when he appeared on two charges of breaking and entering Chambers and sons, Ltd, tn Bath Street. He pleaded guilty to both. Sergeant Townshend , said

police inspected Gay’s garage in North Beach On July 28 under search warrant and found tools, a chainsaw and sandpaper to a total value of $305. Gay readily admitted stealing the property from Chambers and Sons. Ltd. and this, with further goods worth $337, was recovered without damage. Gay told police that he had been told an easy way into the premises six months previously. About 11 a.m. on July 12 ha parked his car some distance away and walked to the rear of the building. He gained entry by inserting wire through a drill hole under a window In the women’s toilet and releasing the catch. He took saws, sandpaper, chisels and a screwdriver to a total value of $lBO. On July 27 Gay, accompanied by David Hugh Warwick, again entered the building by the same method. He opened the rear door for Warwick and took three handsaws and sandpaper. Warwick, aged 17. a wire worker, pleaded guilty to a similar charge, brought jointly. Sergeant Townshend said that Warwick had removed spanners, screwdrivers and other tools. When interviewed by police on July 28. he admitted a number or other thefts. Sergeant Townshend said. Having gone to the Aranut Motor Lodge for a drink on June 27, he saw a sheepskin rug In a car. He put it in his own car and drove oft. He removed a wheel and tyre from a trailer parked in Rawhltl Domain on June 27. Warwick was also involved in the theft Of 15 gallons of petrol from the Walmalri Beach Golf Club on May 2, Sergeant Townshend said. Warwick, who pleaded guilty to all charges, was remanded to August 12 for a probation report and sentence. BURGLARY OF STORE The police searched the premises of Hay’s, Ltd, 755 Colombo Street, after a cleaner disturbed an intruder at 1.55 a.m. on July 18, said Sergeant Townshend. Radios worth $6O« were found to have been moved to the china department, ready to be packed into a suitcase. Another suitdase. containing radios worth $309 was found near an alleyway door, and a fire escape door oh the second floor was found open. A dog, searching the roof, found a pair of gloves hidden on the roof of the next building. Ross William McGulnn, aged 23, a factory worker, was seen to walk out of the alleyway Into Gloucester Street, said Sergeant Townshend. He was apprehended in a nearby hamburger bar. Mcgulnn, who pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering the building, was remanded until today tor sentence. He also pleaded guilty to receiving 24 pairs of shoes valued at $l3l on July 23, on which charge he was similarly remanded. ASSAULTED GIRL’S COMPANION A 19-year-old youth, who went to visit his girlfriend, at 8.45 p.m. on May 8. found she had gone for a drive with another man, sergeant Townshend said. The girl and the man arrived as he was speaking to the girl's mother. He went to the driver’s door and grabbed the man by the neck, striking several blows to his head and neck. The driver fell to the ground, where several kicks were delivered, said Sergeant Townshend. Brian Robert Cameron, aged 19, a driver <Mr D. H. Stringer) pleaded guilty to assaulting Alan Williamson. He was remanded until today tor sentence. FINED AND REMANDED Andrew Callinan, aged 43, a woolpresser, was fined a total of $2O on charges of wilful damage to a cell can and a breach of a prohibition order and was ordered to make restitution of $4.20. Sergeant Townshend said that the police found Callinan seated at a table In the Star and Garter Hotel about 8.5 p.m. on August 2 with beer in front of him. He told the police that he was waiting for a friend and was drinking lemonade. He was asked to leave but drank the beer before doing so.

On August 4 Callinan had damaged a cell can by throwing it against the wall, said Sergeant Townshend. .

Later in the day Callinan pleaded guilty to a charge of using obscene language In

Cathedral Square on August 4. | He was remanded on bail to August 12 for sentence. He had originally pleaded not guilty to the charge. STOLE SPARE WHEEL .A youth, who got a puncture when out driving, saw a similar car parked nearby, and re, moved the spare wheel from its boot, said Sergeant Townshend. Thomas Charles Darling, aged 18, a labourer, pleaded guilty to the theft of the wheel, valued at $5, between June 1 and June 30. The wheel had been recovered, but the owner had not been found. Sergeant Townshend said. Darling was remanded until August 12 for a probation report and sentence. DRANK WHILE PROHIBITED Paul Ronald Tozer, aged 19, an apprentice boatbuilder, was fined $2O on a charge of procuring liquor while prohibited. Sergeant Townshend said that at $.30 p.m. on Sunday. June 22, the Lyttelton police were called to a disturbance in the Harbour Light Theatre. Several youths were removed from the theatre at the manager’s request. Tozer was questioned about a number of empty beer bottles which were left scattered on the floor where he had been seated.

Tozer told the’police that he had been drinking with friends during the afternoon and was not responsible for the empty beer bottles left tn the theatre. He refused to give any informatlon as to where the liquor had been purchased or supplied, Tozer, who was on probation, was prohibited on September 2, 1988, Sergeant Townshend said.

CHARGE DISMISSED A charge against David Francis McGinley, aged 20, a student teacher, of using insulting words in Memorial Avenue on July 20, was dis missed. He pleaded not guilty and was represented by Mr P. H. T. Alpers. The charge arose from a demonstration by the Progressive Youth Movement at the Christchurch Airport against the Vietnam war to mark the signing of the Geneva Agreement on Vietnam. (Before Mr J. D. Kinder, S.M.) THEFT FROM SHOP A shop assistant, who noticed a frock tn the bag of a girl, who had been looking at a numher of frocks with a friend, took it from the bag and confronted them with It. the Court was told when a girl, aged 18, a machinist, whose name was suppressed. appeared on a charge of stealing a frock, worth $15.85, from Town Talk Mantles. Chaneery Lane, on May 21. She pleaded not guilty and was represented by Mr K. N. Hampton. Evelyn Frances Brown said she was showing frocks to the defendant and her friend when she noticed the dress tn the bag. It had come from the basement department, which they had just left. The defendant had no Inten tion of taking the frock, submitted Mr Hampton. Her friend had taken it without her knowledge or approval, although apparently intended for her. Convicting the defendant, the Magistrate said he was satisfied she was a party to the theft, which showed stupidity rather than criminal behaviour. She was remanded until Friday for a probation report and sentence. MISCELLANEOUS CASES In miscellaneous cases dealt with by the Magistrate, convictions were entered and fines imposed. with $5 Court costs in each case, on the following:— Opened car door In a dangerous manner: Mavis Frances Potter. $l2. Failed to give way to right: Peter William Chapple, $l5. No driver’s licence: James Matthew Walker. $l4. Failed to atop for red light: Roger Keith Gray, $2O, disqualified for three months. Careless use: Annette Veronica Knight. $l2. disqualified from driving for three months: Christopher John Ash, $2O, and disqualified for three months.

(Before Mr H. J. Evans, S.M.) SENT TO BORSTAL Brian Patrick Thomas, aged 17, unemployed, was sent to Borstal when he appeared for sentence on seven charges. The charges were: unlawfully taking a car valued at $7OO, the property of C. J. Robertson: a car valued at $l2OO, the property of U. J. Mortensen; a car

I valued at $l4OO. the property of S. p. Tighe: a car valued at $l4OO, the property of L. W. Jones; a car valued at $llOO, the property of T. C. Hayes; .a station waggon valued at s3ooo, the property of G. J. Paterson, and receiving a camera from John Lindsay White when he knew it had been stolen. i BORSTAL TRAINING Tangltu Tukl, aged 19, a tussock grubber, was sentenced to Borstal training when he appeared lor sentence on lour charges. The charges were: unlawfully taking a car valued at $l4OO, the property of Graphic Services. Ltd; burglary of Martins Four Square Store, and the shop of C, I. Harf-ls, Corsair Bay, and unlawfully taking a car valued at $llOO, the property of T. C. Hayes. (Before Mr W. F. Brown. S.M.) TRAFFIC OFFENCES In City Council traffic prosecCutions convictions were entered and fines imposed as follows, with costs of j 5 in each case:— Exceeded 30 miles an hour: Graeme Morris Tonkin, $l5 ordered to attend driving lectures: Noale John Cribb. $127 Campbell Alexander Paton. $l6; Ronald Stanley Batchelor. $1«; William John Betheridge. $lO Robin George Dungay. »20, disqualified for one month; Mitchell Reid Bates. $l4 (no wararnt of fitness. $4); Gary Lester Cockcron, $10; John Lewis Forster. $10; Bevin Bernard Hall. $18; Brian Lewis Halvorsen, $l5; Donald Hawkins. $8; Anne Elizabeth Hood. $8; Allan Aubrey Kennington, $8; Kevin James Lane. $3O; Kenneth Brian Schlaadt, »12 (failed to display L sign, $4); Eddie Van Delwynen, $10; Ivor Leslie Phillips, $8 ■ Failed to stop at sign: Thomas Esmond O’Brien, $10; Mark Roland Stufkens, $8 (no brakes on cycle, $3); Helen Anne Consedtne, $l5; Trevor John Dawson, $10; Robert George Everett, $l5: Paul Wayne Fisher. $8; William Robert Lawrence, $lO (carried pillion passenger with provisional licence. $5); Heather Carson Morrison, $10; Alison May O’Grady. $10; John Edwin Flank, $5. _ Failed to display L sign: Peter Edwin John Anderson, $s costs; Malcolm James Coles, $4; Nell Samuel Bennett, $4 (failed to display registration plate, $5l; Trevor John Nicholls, $10; Gary Genet, $8; Arthur Hicks, $8; ißarbara Anne Jones, $2; BrenIdan John Rock, $2. I Insufficient lights: Horace [Frank Wisbey, $5; Russell James Silcock, $5; Sidney Joseph Russell Cooper, $10; Brent George Foster, $2O; William James Arthur Hill, $4; Lindsay John King, $4; Bernard Stephen street, $2; Tyrrell John Turtlll, $lO.

Careless use of motor vehicle: Ahthony Charles Young, $l5, dlaqualifled for three months (failed to stop at sign, $12); Raymond Trevor Cullen, $3O; Hen arietta Sandbrooke Knight. MS; Douglas Chee, $2O; David Ronald Mulholland, $25. disqualified for three months.

Proceeded from stop sign before way clear: Garry Morris Beecroft, $lO, disqualified for three months; Phillip Roy Stoddart Corbett, $l3, disqualified tor three months. Failed to give way: Peter John Van Beck, $l5 disqualified for three months; Neville Wayne Minchlngton. $2O; Leonard Stanley Gibbs. $3O; Stephen Alan Moase, $lO. disqualified for three months. Failed to comply with traffic lights: Peter John Jones, $25; Brian James Salt, $3O; John Sanderson Harrison, $B5; Sheung-Lan Chien, $35; Thomas Robert Johnson, 425. Insecure load: Raymond Douglas Dempsey, $2O. Exceeded heavy traffic licence: Mills and Graham. Ltd, $lO. No heavy troffic licence: Kenneth Douglas Gray, $B. Failed to keep to the left: Keith Robert Williams, $l5. disqualified tor six weeks; Robert John Lockwood. $l5. Failed to comply with directions of traffic officer: Michael John Nolan, $2O.

Water Ski Titles. The eleventh world water ski championships opened in Copenhagen on Sunday with an exhibition of water ski acrobatics on Lake Bagsvaerd. About 85 competitors will take part in the tournament. Twentythree countries are represented including most West European countries, with Czechoslovakia the only East European nation to participate, plus the United States, Argentina. Mexico. Canada, South Africa. Australia. New Zealand, Colombia and the West Indies.