MAGISTRATE’S COURT Youth imprisoned for 11 months; 19 offences

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32524, 6 February 1971, Page 5

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Youth imprisoned for 11 months; 19 offences

“I consider that in the public interest you must be deprived of the right to live in the community,” Mr H. J. Evans, S.M., said in the Magistrate's Court yesterday when sentencing Stuart McKay Campbell, aged 18, unemployed (Mr M. J. Glue), to 11 months imprisonment on 19 charge of dishonesty, Campbell was placed on probation for one year from the date of his release.

Campbell had pleaded guilty and been convicted on seven charges of false pretences, a charge of attempted false pretences, five charges of burglary, three charges of fraud, and three charges of theft. Mr Glue said that Campbell's offences included practically every form of dishonesty. It seemed almost inevitable that he would lose his liberty. Campbell presented a considerable problem and he had to have some guidance if there was to be any hope of rehabilitation. The Magistrate said Campbell left the Court with no alternatives but Borstal or gaol. He directed that psychiatric treatment be made available to Campbell during his term of imprisonment.

PERIODIC DETENTION “Your criminal record is a major record consisting, except one, of crimes of dishonesty,” said the Magistrate before sentencing a man to periodic de tention for one year and orderIng him to pay restitution of $2O, on a charge of intending to de fraud and a charge of theft. Alexander Sander Gasparics, aged 35, a shoe trimmer (Mr J. E. Butler), had pleaded guilty to the charge of intending to defraud and yesterday he pleaded guilty to the charge of theft. Sergeant V. F. Townshend said that the police saw Gasparics on January 27 trying to sell an $BO camera. He was questioned and said it was his own, but gave conflicting stories. It was later reported to the police that a car had been broken into and the camera stolen from it, said Sergeant Townshend. When questioned again, Gasparics said he found the camera in the Manchester Street toilets. THEFT A man, whose name was suppressed, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft of $35.59 from a soft-drink vending machine. He was remanded until February 15 for sentence. Sergeant R. J. Skllton said that the defendant was interviewed after thefts had been reported from the cafeteria of P.D.L. Industries on August 12. A number of marked 5c pieces were put into the machine and some of these were used by the defendant in the cafeteria on December 21. When interviewed by the Sollce, the defendant admitted le offence and said he had been called to repair the machine and found that" the cash box could be swung down. He thought it so easy that he took a handful of coins. Twenty-three of the marked coins were in his possession, said Sergeant Skllton. It was estimated that $240 had been taken over a period of time. STOWAWAY A man who stowed away on a ship In Sydney so that he could “have a look round New Zealand,” had only 6c in his possession when he gave himself UP to the police in Christchurch. Peter Ronald Way, aged 22, unemployed, pleaded guilty to a charge of secreting himself on a ship without the consent of the master and a charge of being idle and disorderly. "You can go back to where you belong; you are not going to stay here,” said the Magistrate before releasing Way on probation for one year on the secreting charge and convicting and discharging him on the idle and disorderly charge. A condi-

tlon of probation is that Way leaves New Zealand within two months. Sergeant Skllton said that Way called at the Christchurch Central Police Station on February 4, dirty and unkempt, and said he wished to give himself up as he had no money and nowhere to live.

Way said he had stowed away on a boat in Sydney and got into N<?w Zealand undetected five weeks ago. Since then he had hitch-hiked round the North Island, living off the land, said Sergeant Skllton. He had worked only for six days at Motueka and he wanted to return to Adelaide. FOUND ON ROOF Two young men found on the roof of Mojo’s Nitespot, Gloucester Street, on February 5 were each convicted and ordered to pay costs of $5. They were Robert Graham Frew, aged 20, a mechanic, and Noel Edwin Minogue, aged 22, a fish splitter. They pleaded guilty. Minogue was ordered to pay restitution of $lO. Sergeant Skllton said the defendants were found on the roof at 1.50 a.m. They told the police they climbed a ladder to see what was up there. Minogue caused damage amounting to $lO to a skylight. THEFTS FROM HOUSE Wayne Jordan, aged 18, a truck-driver (Mr. D. M. Palmer), pleaded guilty to charges of stealing a pair of towels worth $4 on October 14 and stealing a lawn mower worth $ll5 on October 13. He was convicted on both charges and remanded on bail to February 15 for sentence. The offences, were committed at Westport and the articles were taken from a house rented by Jordan from Judith Anne Earnshaw, Sergeant Skllton said. Jordan sold the mower for $45. Jordan told the police he had had a lot of trouble with the complainant and this was his way of getting back at her. DANGEROUS DRIVING A Royal New Zealand Air Force corporal who approached an S bend in Otago at 85. miles an hour, wrecking his car and injuring passengers when he failed to negotiate the bend, was disqualified for one year and s half. He was also remanded until February 15 for sentence. Murray Kennedy Edmonds, aged 22, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving in a manner that might have been dangerous on October 31 at Tapanui. Edmonds admitted consuming a quantity of beer before the accident, said Sergeant Skllton. Edmonds said that he lived in Otago and was familiar with the bend. He could remember only the accident itself.

ASSAULT On a charge of assaulting John Donald Innes on October 22, Henry Frederick Bruce, aged 21, a welder, was convicted and fined $4O. He pleaded guilty. The Magistrate ordered that half the fine be paid to the complainant. SHOP THEFTS

A woman, whose name was suppressed, pleaded guilty to charges of stealing toys and other articles worth $5.98 from Beath and Company, Ltd, on January 5, and stealing a frock worth $10.75 from J. Ballantyne and Company. Ltd, on the same date. She was convicted on both charges and remanded on bail to February 15 for sentence. The defendant was represented by Mr P. F. Tempero. IDLE AND DISORDERLY Kaataroma Tari Russell, aged 25, unemployed, pleaded guilty to a charge of being idle and disorderly at Lyttelton on February 4 and was remanded in custody until February 9 for sentence. Sergeant Skilton said that Russell had been wandering about the streets and wharves of LyV telton for several days. She had $l.ll in her possession and said she had not worked since before Christmas.

OBSCENE LANGUAGE On a charge of using obscene language in Cathedral Square on February 4, Christopher Leo Redden, aged 17, a factory worker, was convicted and fined $l5. He pleaded guilty. OBSTRUCTED FOOTPATH Terrance William Platt, aged 19, an apprentice motor mechanic, was fined $l2 for obstructing the footpath in Cathedral Square on January 28. He pleaded guilty.

DISCHARGED A youth who stole a packet ot chicken portions valued at 56c was discharged without conviction under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice Act when he appeared for sentence on a charge of theft. He was ordered to pay $25 towards the cost of prosecution and his name was suppressed. The Magistrate said that a conviction for theft would be a disproportionate penalty. MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES In miscellaneous police prosecutions convictions were entered and fines imposed as follows, with costs of $5 in each case:

Found in bar while under age: lan Douglas Osborne, $10; Bruce Alexander Ferguson, $lO (gave false information, $15); Barry Lewis Keats, $lO (gave false information, $10). w , Drove carelessly: John David Lawrence, $25. disqualified for three months.

(Before Mr E. S. J. Crutchley, S.M.) FINED $25 Simon James Allard, aged 18, a surfboard maker (Mr G. R. Lascelles), was convicted and fined $lO on a charge of altering the figures on a driver’s licence. On a charge of purchasing liquor while under age he was convicted .and fined $5. He pleaded guilty to both charges. On a charge of giving false particulars to the police, to which he pleaded not guilty, he was convicted and fined $lO. A charge of theft of a driver’s licence was dismissed. CARELESS USE Terrence Francis Hogan, aged 19, an aircraftman, was convicted and fined $2O on a charge of careless use of a motor-vehicle. He pleaded not guilty and was represented by Mr D. J. Boyle. (Before Mr K. H. J. Headifen, S.M.) FINED $lO William Henry Banks, aged 66, a timber merchant, was convicted and fined $lO on a charge of driving at a speed in excess of 30 miles an hour. He pleaded not guilty and conducted his own defence.