MAGISTRATE’S COURT Probation and fines for smash-and-grab raids

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32565, 26 March 1971, Page 11

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Probation and fines for smash-and-grab raids

Two youths who appeared for sentence for three burglaries, two of them smash-and-grab raids, were released on probation and fined by Mr W. F. Brown, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. A third youth was remanded until April 1 for a psychiatric examination. The burglaries were at Newell Rogers Jewellers, Maurice Liebert Studios and the Riccarton Musical Centre and involved goods valued at $436.48. Alan Leonard Morrison, aged 17, unemployed (Mr S. H. StamersSmith), was released on probation for 18 months and fined ?85. He was also ordered to pay restitution of $53.50. Counsel said that Morrison took a relatively minor part in the burglary. He was told he would be called “chicken” if he did not take part and he took only one radio. The Magistrate said that Morrison acted as look-out, but the look-out was just as guilty as the person who burgled the shops. Gary Hubert Robinson, aged 18, a pie-cart attendant (Mr P. M. Duncan), was released on probation for 18 months, fined $9O and ordered to pay restitution of $53.50. Robinson also pleaded guilty to a charge of driving in a manner that might have been dangerous on December 22. According to the Ministry of Transport statement of facts, Robinson left tyre burns up to 200 ft long in Spencer Street and drove only 2ft from the kerb on the wrong side of the road. He broadsided his vehicle in Lincoln Road and took blind corners on the wrong side. When questioned, Robinson said he had not had the opportunity to race on tracks, so this was the next best thing. Robinson was disqualified for 18 months from April 18, on the termination of his present disqualification, fined $4O and ordered to attend three traffic lectures. For having a noisy vehicle on December 26 Robinson was ordered to pay costs. Counsel said that when Rob-

inson saw the traffic officer he panicked. The first burglary was calculated, but the other two were committed on the spur of the moment. Robinson was easily led and was virtually a first offender. Keith Allan John Hepburn, aged 17, unemployed (Mr Sfamers-Smith), was remanded until April 1 for a psychiatric examination. He pleaded guilty to an additional charge of driving In a manner that might have been dangerous on the Napier-Taupo highway on September 23. Sergeant R. S. Morgan said that Hepburn cut the corner on a downhill bend and collided head-on with another car. RECEIVER FINED

“This was a very bady case of receiving,” said the Magistrate before fining Stephen Geoffrey Rea, aged 26, a barman (Mr G. R. Lascelles) $2OO when he appeared for sentence on a charge of receiving. Rea was also released on probation for one year. The Magistrate said that a television set and radio, valued at $285, were bought .by Rea for $46. “The probation officer’s report says that you wanted to make easy money, but you have $l2OO in the Post Office Savings Bank," said the Magistrate. “You have not previously been convicted of an offence of dishonesty, but I am not prepared to believe that Sou are so naive as to be taken 1 by these people who commit burglaries.” Counsel said that the offence was devoid of premeditation and the deal was done in a vexy short time.

PROBATION “I give you this solemn warning: if you have anything to do with the taking of cars again it will mean detention in one form or another,” the Magistrate said when sentencing Peter John Hansen, aged 18, unemployed (Mr E. J. Turbott), on a charge of unlawfully taking a car on March 17. Hansen was fined $75 and placed on probation for one year.

[ Mr Turbott said that this incident was Hansen’s first dishonest offence. Hansen did not drive the car, but he was a [ party to its being taken. CANNABIS CHARGE On a charge of having cannabis in his possession at Lyttelton on March 24, David George Wall, aged 20, a seaman, was convicted and remanded on bail to March 29 for sentence. He pleaded guilty. Sergeant Morgan said that seven cannabis seeds and some leaf and stalk fragments weighing one-tenth of a gram were found in the pockets of a pair of trousers owned by the defendant when the m.v. Cretic was searched on March 24. Wall said he had no idea how the cannabis ■ got there. STOLE SHOES A man who stole a pair of shoes from a shop display stand and then threw his own shoes into the Avon River told the police he was out of work and out of money, Sergeant Morgan said. The defendant, Desmond Frederick Stokes, aged 49, unemployed, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing the shoes, ; worth $5.95, from Penrose Shoes,

, Ltd, on March 24. He was con- , victed and remanded on bail to April 1 for sentence. Stokes was ordered to undergo a medical i examination with a view to a ’ sentence of work-centre training. , . FINED $lOO Donald George Bryan, aged 20, i an apprentice panelbeater (Mr i D. M. Palmer), was fined $lOO . and placed on probation for 18 months when he appeared for t sentence on a charge of being r found unlawfully in an. enclosed r yard in Hereford Street on ’ March 17. He was also ordered to take out a prohibition order. . The Magistrate said that if ' Bryan offended again it would ’ mean detention centre or Bors- ' tai. ’ FALSE PRETENCES . Royston Dean Samuel Sutton, : aged 47, unemployed (Mr T. E. Higgins), pleaded guilty to a i charge of false pretences on , March 16 by passing a valueless ' cheque for $16.50 and was reJ manded until April 1 for sentence. TOOK CARS • Walter Haumai Denny, aged > 17, a factory worker (Mr J. R. i Milligan), pleaded guilty to four E charges of unlawfully taking ; cars and one charge of burglary » and was remanded until April 1 for sentence. , Sergeant Morgan said that the • offences occurred between July [ 2, 1970, and January 25. 1971. . The cars were valued at $6500 r and the stolen goods at $179.95. t OBSCENE LANGUAGE t Reginald Robert Hamilton, s aged 22, a factory labourer, was ■ fined $4O when he pleaded guilty ' to a charge of obscene language s In Battersea Street on March

ASSAULT After a disturbance outside the Club Tavern on March 24 in Battersea Street, the defendant, Colin Bartlett, aged 21. a painter, was arrested when he refused to move along, said Sergeant Morgan. He struggled when being taken to the police car and used obscene language. Bartlett pleaded guilty to charges of assault ana obscene language and was remanded until April 1 for a medical examination for work centre.

OFFENCE WITH GIRL On a charge of having sexual intercourse with a girl aged 15 on March 7, Michael Peter John Orlowski, aged 18, a workman (Mr E. T. Higgins), was convicted and remanded on bail to April 1 for sentence. He pleaded guilty. Sergeant Morgan said the offence was committed after Orlowski and the complainant had attended a party which went on until 4 a.m. MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES In miscellaneous police prosecutions, convictions were entered and fines imposed as follows, with costs of $5 in each case:— Drove carelessly: James Tuhikarama, $25, disqualified for three months from April 8.

Supplied liquor -to person under age: Bruce William Barcock, $10; Clark Donald Nutsford, $10; Neal John Vallance, $lO.

■ Found in bar while under age: - Dona Patricia Henry, $2; David t Alan Welsh, $5; Heather June i White, $B. Possessed liquor while under age: Valerie Lyn Johnston, $8; b Myra Jane McGinety, $B. - (Before Mr P. L. Molineaux, j S.M.) 1 ROBBERY CHARGE Noel Edwin Minogue, aged 22, ' a factory hand, was remanded in custody until April 1 for L sentence when he was convicted -of robbing John Christopher ' Slattery of $7.44 on February ; 17 in the Catholic Depot in Barbadoes Street. Minogue pleaded - not guilty. | Minogue (Mr A. N. Maclean), l was with three other persons 1 who have already been convicted and sentenced on the same charge.