MAGISTRATE’S COURT Prison Escapers Sentenced To Further Six Months Gaol

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32352, 18 July 1970, Page 9

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Prison Escapers Sentenced To Further Six Months Gaol

A young man at present serving a sentence of imprisonment for two years on a charge of aggravated robbery said he escaped from prison in protest against the assault of other inmates by prison officers, when he appeared for sentence before Mr P. L. Molineaux, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. The defendant, Charles Reuben Lowe, aged 25, a factory hand, made the allegation that prison inmates had been assaulted when he was asked if he had anything to say before the sentence of the Court was passed on him on charges of escaping on July 7 and unlawfully taking a car the next day. “I escaped to protest against the assaults,” he said. “One fellow is in hospital through being assaulted. It was also to protest against the lack of personal hygiene in prison.” Lowe, and a co-offender on both charges, Raymond Neil Forrester, aged 20, a driver, were sentenced to concurrent sentences of six months imprisonment on each charge The sentences are to be served at the conclusion of their present terms. Lowe was sentenced to two years imprisonment in the Supreme Court in May, and Forrester was sentenced to two years and a half for burglary and other offences before both Courts in the same month.

The Magistrate said both men were serving their sentences when it was noticed

: they were not in their cells. Cell bars had been sawn i through with a hacksaw and they had escaped through the i window by using sheets. The defendants took a car from Islington by crossing I the ignition wires. They were , later apprehended in the ■ street by the police. “As soon as you effected i your escape, which was achieved in a spectacular fashion, you commenced to commit offences again,” the Magistrate said. FRAUD CHARGES Shirley Anne Brunton, aged 24, an unemployed barmaid, pleaded guilty to two charges of fraud with valueless cheques. She was convicted on each charge and remanded on ball to July 28 tor a probation report and sentence. Sergeant W. W. Maloney said that on the afternoon of July 16 Brunton went to two city, stores and obtained one pair of women's shoes, a man's shirt, and <48.06 cash by presenting two valueless cheques. The cheques were given to her by a man and were from a cheque book stolen from a city motel on July 15. When Interviewed Brunton said she acted on the spur of the moment, said Sergeant Maloney. ESCAPED FROM CUSTODY Bruce Roy Stewart, aged 18, a labourer, was convicted and remanded on bail to July 28 for sentence when he pleaded guilty to charges of escaping from the custody of a police constable on July 16. and wilfully breaking a soft drink bottle in Cathedral Square on the same date. Sergeant Maloney said the defendant ran from the Godley plot after breaking a bottle, and was later arrested on the town ball site by Constable R. H. Pettet. He broke away from the constable on the way to the police station and ran away. When apprehended soon after, the defendant said he threw the bottle because some person had called him names. TAXI OFFENCE On a charge of failing to pay a taxi fare on July 16, Willfam Robert Barton Harneiss, aged 63, a watchman, was convicted and lined SlO. He was convicted and fined 64 on a charge Of being found drunk in the foyer of the Lyttelton Police Station on the same date.

The defendant pleaded guilty to both charges. Sergeant Maloney said the defendant travelled from Teddington to Lyttelton In the taxi. He was unable to pay the fare of 33 and had only 45c In his possession when arrested in the station foyer for drunkenness. FINED 330 Susan Patricia Allen, aged 17. a packer (Mr R. F. Powell), was convicted and flned 330 and ordered to make restitution when she pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing household linen and other articles worth 313.50 at Auckland on March 1. Sergeant Maloney said the defendant took the property when she left a room which she had been renting. DROVE WHILE DISQUALIFIED Garry Robin Sparrow, aged 24. a builder's labourer (Mr R. F. B. Perry), was convicted and flned 3100 and disqualified from driving for 12 months when he pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while disqualified. Sergeant Maloney said that Sparrow was convicted of a traffic charge on June 10 and disqualified. In Christchurch the following day he called in at the police station and said that he might have been disqualified. He then drove away. When apprehended by the police, Sparrow said that he did not know whether he had been disqualified or not because he was not present at Court when the sentence was imposed. "'The onus was on the defendant to find out. If he doesn’t take the trouble to turn up at Court he must face the consequences," said the Magistrate. STOLE 318 Sylvia Beryl Connor, an unemployed factory worker, was ordered to come up for sentence within one year when she pleaded guilty to stealing 318 from Lawrence David Townshend on July 16. She was ordered to pay Court costs and make full restitution. Sefgeant -R, B. Kench said that Connor -had been given the money by the complainant to pay an account while both were living at a boardinghouse at ISO Llncoln Road. However, she had kept ttfa-ampunt. She admitted the offence to the police, and said she had a problem . with alcohol. REMANDED Pean Kennet Mushet, aged 19. a packer,_ was further remanded to July 77. when he appeared for sentence-on. a; charge of burgling a house at' 4 Rudleigh Street on July 8. '

’ He wee remanded alter he «ed not guilty to two addichargea of burglary with ■ Intent. He was represented by . Mr M. J. Glue. PROBATION Carolyn Elizabeth Rosel, 1 aged 19, a housewife, was placed ’ on probation for IS months when she appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing a ' 322 transistor radio from Owen | Gladstone Cairns on July 9, and after conviction on another charge of forging a 313 Social Security sickness benefit, valued at 313, to which she pleaded guilty. ; Sergeant Kench said that Rosel had cashed a benefit belonging to her mother. The 1 theft was noticed when the mother complained to the So- ) cial Security Department, and , Rosel frankly admitted stealing . It, forging a signature, and I cashing it at the Papanui Post i Office. i For Rosel, Mr A. K. Grant > said that at the time of the offence Rosel had strong emo- : tional problems. She was exi pectlng her first child, and her I husband was in gaol serving a i tour-year term. Her mother I had a problem with alcohol, i and Rosel was worried about , the welfare of her two younger sisters. She thought her i mother would spend the money > on liquor, so she spent most of I It on taking the children on . outings during the Christmas ; holiday period. 1 DEFERRED SENTENCE John Arthur Watson, aged 39. ' a machine operator, was - ordered to come up for sentence within one year if called upon when he pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting his wife, Joan Louisa Watson, on July is. Sergeant Maloney said the defendant struck his wife about the face with Ns fists when he arrived home about 11.43 p.m. The complainant was , in bed at the time and suffered bruising and lacerations about the face. TOOK BICYCLE • William Tehei. aged 21, an assembler, pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully taking a bicycle valued at 320 on July 16. He was convicted and remanded in custody to July 23 for. sentence. DISCHARGED Graham Boy Cooper, aged 37, a draughtsman (Mr A. P. C. Tipping), was discharged without conviction under Sec- ■ tion 42 of the Criminal Justice Act when he pleaded guilty to the theft of one paperback . novel from Whltoombe and Tombs, Ltd, on'June 24. FRAUD Linda Judith Benton, aged 31, an unemployed machinist (Mr A. T. C-,Tipping), was further remaHded to July 23 for a psychiatric report when she appeared for sentence on six ' charges of obtaining credit by fraud. TRAFFIC OFFENCES Careless driving: Albert John Hoera, 315 (no driver's licence, 315, disqualfled for three months). (Before Mr W. F_ Brown. S.M.) DANGEROUS SPEED I David Geoffrey Molloy, a delivery driver, aged 17, was fined 325 and disqualified for one year for driving at a speed whch , might have been dangerous in , Moorhouse Avenue. He pleaded not guilty. * His counsel (Mr P. J. Cord- ■ ner), said that although he had , broken traffic laws by driving ’ down the avenue at 58 miles an I hour this had been at 1.30 a.m., I and there had been no traffic , around. ' CARELESS USE Johannes Peteus Cornelius van > Herpt, aged 41, a fitter and . turner (Mr L. M. O'Reilly), was 1 flned 325 tor careless use of a I motor-ear in Dublin Street, Lyti telton. The charge arose out . of an accident on a corner of the street when the defendant, I driving up the street, had been . involved In a collision with a > car coming down. He pleaded not guilty. 1 FAILED TO GIVE BLOOD '■ Theodorus John -Schaapmeeri decs, aged 32, was fined 370 and disqualified for one year for failing to supply blood for a blood test. He pleaded not guilty Land was represented by Mr D. M. Palmer.