MAGISTRATE’S COURT Man admits taking part in two burglaries

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32568, 30 March 1971, Page 13

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Man admits taking part in two burglaries

One of three men involved in an attempt to open a safe in the Islington Tavern on the night of March 17 pleaded guilty to two charges of burglary when he appeared before Mr W. F. Brown, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. He was Percival Arthur Morrell, aged 31, a garage attendant.

Morrell (Mr M. J. Glue) was convicted and remanded on bail to April 5 for sentence. He was ordered to have a medical examination to determine whether he is suitable for work-centre training. The charges related to burglary of the tavern and burglary of John MacPherson Motors, where Morrell was employed. Sergeant O. A. Hume said that Morrell admitted being involved in both offences when he was interviewed on March 17. One other person involved had ’ also been arrested. , , Morrell said he had been drinking in the Islington Tavern the previous night when his companion suggested they break in and remove the safe. They returned to the hotel late that night and he waited outside while his companion broke in. The safe was too heavy to move, so they drove away and returned with a barrow. Morrell then assisted his companion, but they were unable to move the safe more than about a foot. They then drove to a house in the city to get another man to help, but the safe was still too heavy to move. The three men then broke into John MacPherson Motors and took gas-cutting equipment and cigarettes worth $59. They returned to the tavern and cut the back off the safe, but found it had -a concrete lining. . Morrell said he took part in the offences because he was short of money and wanted to clear his debts.

SIX MONTHS GAOL A man disqualified from driving until 1983 was sentenced to imprisonment for rix months and released on probation for one year when ho appeared for sen{once on a charge of driving while dlaquriifted and .driving under the influence ofdrink or drugs. He was also disqualified for two years on each charge, each term being concurrent with the present term.. The defendant, Arthur Murdock Mclver, aged 36, a bushman, was appearing for the sixth time for driving tvhUo disqualified and the third time for driving while under the influence of drink, the Magistrate aS The probation report said that Mclver was an alcoholic, and he continued to offend, s lid the Magistrate. “I would have made the prison sentence longer, but It seems you are unable to help yourself.” , _ . , . For a second offence of driving while disqualified a prison sentence of up to five years could be imposed, the Magistrate told Mclver.

CANNABIS CHARGE “New Zealand takes a very serious view of any offence relating to narcotics and. usually imposes a sentence of imprisonment,” said the Magistrate on fining a British seaman, David George Wall, aged 20, $125 when he appeared for sentence on a charge of having cannabis in his Po Asked ol if he had anything to say, Wall said he did not know how the cannabis got into the pocket of his trousers. Told that If he did not know, this would be a defence. Wail did not change his plea. The Magistrate said that the m.v. Cretic, on which the defendant was searched, plied between New Zealand and the .West Indies and he was not inclined to accept that Wall did Inot know about the cannabis Iseeds. His ship would sail from New Zealand on March 31. “The captain of your ship has spoken very highly of you and you have never been before him for misconduct,” said the Magistrate. “There was only a trace quantity of cannabis and it is said that you are giving up the sea and working on the London docks.” THIEF GAOLED “This theft was a very miser-

able one indeed,” said the Magistrate before sentencing James Lewis Olds, aged 50, unemployed, to imprisonment for two months when he appeared for sentence on a charge of theft. Olds was also ordered to pay- restitution of $l4O, released on probation for one year and ordered to undergo medical treatment. “You took $l4O from under the mattress in a house In which you were staying,” said the Magistrate. “It seems that your primary problem is alcohol. TAVERN OFFENCES Three men involved in a dis turbance in the Bishopdale Tavern about 5 p.m. on Saturday were fined a total of $155 when they were convicted on charges arising from the incident. They were David WiUiam Blackburn, aged 20, an induatrial insulator, Garry Richard Gibbons, aged 21, an industrial insulator, and Frank Leicester Reynolds, aged 23, a butcher. Blackburn and Gibbons were each fined $25 on a charge of resisting a constable, and fined S 5 on a charge of refusing to ave the tavern when ordered to do so. Both pleaded guilty. Reynolds wu fined $5O on e charge of escaping from custody, and $35 on a charge of obstructing a constable. He pleaded guilty. Sergeant Hume said that Blackburn and Gibbons were asked to leave the tavern because they become Involved in a fight They refused to leave and the police wore called, but they still refused to leave when asked to do so. Both struggled violently with the police when arrested and had to be handcuffed. Sergeant Hume said that Reynolds persisted in interrupting the constable after he arrested Blackbum and. Gibbons. Reynolds refused to leave the kitchen where the two men were held, and ran away when he was arrested. Reynolds told, the police he wanted to help his friends. He ran off when he was arrested because he did not want to get into trouble. THEFT OF SURFBOARD Brian Walter Tbomas, aged 19, an unemployed driver (Mr C. C. H. Knight), was sentenced to periodic detention for six months when he appeared on a charge of stealing a surfboard worth $BO on January 5. He had previously pleaded guilty and been convicted. Mr Knight said there was no doubt that Thomas was careless and irresponsible, but the weight of his offending would not warrant Borstal training or detention. “You pose quite a problem for the Court as regards sentence,” the Magistrate said. “You are on the brink of going to Borstal." FALSE PRETENCES John Steven Maddock, aged 34. a driver, was remanded until April S for a medical examination and sentence when he pleaded guilty to nine charges of false pretences, involving cheques for $153. Sergeant R. B. Kench said that the defendant was dealt with on February 10, 1971, on three other charges of false pretences and on February 19 he was again Interviewed by the police. Ho said he knew that the cheques would be dishonoured. The offences occurred between November 14, 1970, and January 28, 1071, said Sergeant Kench, in Christchurch, Parnassus and Invercargill. The persons cashing the cheques had previously cashed cheques for the defendant which had been honoured. Maddock said he obtained groceries with the cheques for his family of four. DEFERRED SENTENCE A young woman, whose name was suppressed, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing cigarettes worth 80c- from the Self-Help, Ltd, New Brighton, on March 37. The hearing was adjourned untU June 28 with a view to the defendant’s discharge without conviction provided she pays $2O towards the costs of prosecution, Is of good behaviour in the meantime, and reports each I month to the probation officer, i The defendant was represented by Mr M. J. Glue. ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY On a charge of escaping from the custody of the officer in charge of the pre-release hostel on Mar-h 37, William Tukere, aged 37, a bricklayer, was convicted and remanded in custody to April 5 for sentence. He pleaded guilty. _ Sergeant R. S. Morgan said that Tukere’s explanation was that he "just felt like going out.” Daniel Chapman Weir, aged 35, a carpenter’s foreman, pleaded guilty to escaping from the prerelease hostel on March 27 ana was remanded in custody until April 5 for sentence. Sergeant Morgan said that Weir had served two years imprisonment for burglary and false pretences and was at the

pre-release centre In Vincent Place. A condition of his stay was that he should report at the centre at 11 p.m. He failed to do this and did not return until 9 a.m. on March 39. In explanation, Weir said he had been drinking, fallen asleep and thought it was then too late to go back, as the damage had been done. THEFT OF RECORDS

A girl who pleaded guilty to steaUng eight records valued at $8 from Electrical Musical Industries on March 12 was remanded until April 5 for sentence. The defendant’s name was suppressed. She was represented by Mr L B

McNeil. Sergeant Hume said that the defendant went into the shop at 1.15 p.m. and browsed through the records. At 1.30 p.m. she left the shop with the records in her bag without paying for them. She denied the offence at first, but when Interviewed by the police admitted taking the records. TOOK CAR WUliam James Willis, aged 20, a beekeeper (Mr D. M. Primer), pleaded guilty to taking a car valued at $3OOO from Huntsbury Avenue on March 10 and was remanded until April 5 for senSergeant Hume arid that the car was found abandoned in Sumner. When Interviewed on March 37, Willis said he took the car only because it was a fast sports car and he wanted to give it a run.

MILK-MONEY THEFT John Alexander Anderson, aged 45, an unemployed labourer, who pleaded guilty to stealing $2.37 from milk bottles on January 7, was fined $2O. Sergeant Hume arid that the defendant said he stole the money because he was unemployed and wanted the money for rent. The complainant saw the defendant taldng money from his milk bottles and followed him and saw him take more money. He chased the defendant and caught him.

YOUTH FINED $OO A -youth who threw three beer bottles into a street at Lyttelton after a party and then smashed a pane of glare with another bottle, was fined $BO and ordered to pay restitution of $2. He wu Wayne Philip Fitreerald, aged 18, a seaman, who pleaded * U Sergeant Hume arid that the defendant attended a party at Cressey Terrace, Lyttelton, on March 29. At 12.5 a.m. he was asked to leave and threw three beer bottles into the street He then went bsck to the house and smashed a pant of glass, slightly injuring » woman inside. He denied both offence* when questioned. THEFT OF TROUSERS Catherine Knapman, aged 19, a cafeteria assistant, was fined $4O when she was sentenced on a charge of steaUng a. pair of women’s trousers worth $l9 on February 15. She had previously pleaded guilty and been convicted.

THEFT OF MONEY Norman Cyril Lee, aged 20, a storeman, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing $27 from PrebWe’s Discount House on March 4. He was convicted and remanded on ball to April 5 for sentence- CAR Stuart James Wilson, aged 24, unemployed, pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully taking a car on March 26. He waa convicted and remanded in custody to March 31 for sentence.

MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES In miscellaneous prosecutions, convictions and fines were imposed as follows, with court costs of $5 in each case:— Careless' use’i Lucy Isabella stop in half dear distance: Phillip Gary Tumoch, 130, ordered to attend three traffic lectures, Failed to give way: Leonard John Taylor. $35, disqualified for two months. Person under 30 years drank liquor In a public place: Kevin John Ireland, $l5; Kevin Joseph Slmmiss. $l5. (Before Mr P- L. Molinaaux, S.M.) CHARGE DISMISSED A man who ordered a retread tyre from the Hillsborough Service Station, and collected it without the authority of the proprietor or his employees was charged with stealing the tyre, worth $8.90. He was Neville Andrew Drummond, aged 34, a fireman (Mr S. G. Erber), who pleaded not guilty. Dismissing the charge, the Magistrate said that insufficient evidence had been produced to bring a conviction, and that the whole matter lay in a contract agreed upon by Drummond and a service station employee.

FINED $2O In a traffic prosecution brought by the police. John Gerrard Holland, . aged 22, a shearer*’ labourer, was convicted and fined $2O and disqualified from . driving for three months after , he had pleaded not guilty to a , charge of failing to comply with i traffic lights. TWO CHARGES Gary Wayne Flynn, aged 20, a game-farm worker (Mr S. G. Erber), was convicted and fined $!5 1 when he pleaded guilty to a . charge of damaging a window 1 pane worth $5. On a charge of ! careless driving, to which he - pleaded not guilty, he was convicted and fined $2O. , TRAFFIC BREACHES i In traffic cases the following : were convicted and fined: Exceeded 30 miles an hour: John Errol Aston, $25: Peter John i Avery, $10; Clive Richard Back, $10; Margaret Eleanor Barns, $l2; , Peter Howard Barton. $3O: Alee James Braithwaite, $l3; Christopher Rex Broadhurst. $10; Joseph Denny, $10; Paul Clifford Deyell. $3O; Stephen John Shearer $25; Joseph Leonard Shilcock, $10; Daphne May Silverton, $l5; Richard Lionel Te Whata, $lO (failed te stop, $5); Peter Selwyn Thomson. $5; Frank Walmsley, $10; Merk Warren, $35; Peter Robin Williams. $10; Dsvid Thomas Wilson. $35; John Matthew Gardner, $10; Ronald William Gatehouse. $10; Stephen Lawrence Dick. $5, disqualified for six - weeks. ordered to attend three traffic lectures; John David Dunlop, $10; Dennis Ashley Healey, $35; Brian McGregor Massie. $lO (failed to keep lon, $10); Patrick Charles Prendergast, $25; Gary Selwyn Roud, $10; Marilyn Jones, $10; Philip lan Jones, $10; Raybond Leslie Leach. $10; Clarice Maud Lilly, $10; Henry Francis Litoeff, $l6; John Kevin McLeod, $10; Howard Bril Muir. $10; Robert Wilfred Murrell, $10; Terry Ivan Onnandy, $l3; Ivan Lyndsay Palmer, $10; Wayne Clifford Pool, $3O. Failed to give way: Joseph Harris, $35 disqualified for six weeks: Kirk Prettyman Hayes. $2O (failed to give way to pedestrian, $13); William David McEvery, $2O, disqualified for three months. Failed to stop at atop sign: Ronald Kenneth Longley, $7; Herbert William Mclver. $5; Denise Janet Milne, $5; Ronald William Newton, $6: Alison Mary Paku, $6: John WUliam Watkins. $6; Graeme John WUliamson, $5. Failed to comply With traffic lights: Ellen Mary Bell. $10; Andrew Alexander Swarbrick. $7, disqualified for three months. Noisy vehicle: RenneU Ernest Ballinger $7. Insufficient lights: Eric Graham Berg. $7; Nigel Charles Humphrey Hewit. $10; George Marshall Burns, $10; Thomas Luka Donnelly, $lO. Careless use: Bussell lan Brunt, $2O, disqualified for three months and ordered to attend three traffic lectures: Brent Turner Roberts, disqualified for three months and ordered to attend three traffic lectures; Eugene Wayne Turina, $lO. Failed to stop for traffic officer: Roger Leslie Graham, $lO. HOSPITAL HEARING A hospital patient was remanded In police custody pending deportation to Australia to answer a charge of theft of a car in Western Australia in 1969 A special sitting of the Court was held at the hoapital. The defendant’s name was suppressed. , . The Magistrate ordered that the defendant be not removed from hospital or taken into another Institution without the consent of the Court. Mr D. H. P. Dawson appeared for the defendant.