MAGISTRATE’S COURT Arrest led police to house-breaking kits

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32633, 15 June 1971, Page 10

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Arrest led police to house-breaking kits

Two kits of burglar’s tools, among them skeleton keys and lock-picking instruments, were found when the house of Bert William Henry Poffley was searched on June 12, Sergeant R. S. Morgan said in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Poffley, aged 59, a process worker, pleaded guilty before Mt H. J. Evans, S.M., to charges of attempting to break and enter a house in Cashel Street on June 12 and having instruments capable of being used for burglary in his possession on the same date. He was convicted and remanded in custody to June 21 for sentence.

Sergeant Morgan said that the Cashel Street householder was awakened at 5 a.m. by the noise a person made in trying to open the back door of the house with a key. The offender made off, but the complainant and a milkman gave chase and apprehended Poffley, who had gloves, numerous skeleton

keys, and a torch in his possession. Poffley said that he left home early that morning with the urge to break into a house. When Poffley applied for bail, on the grounds that he had a cat ancr dog to care for and had a quantity of furniture in his house to be looked after, Sergeant Morgan said that Poffley had numerous convictions for burglary. ASSAULT A man, whose name was suppressed, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting his wife on June 12. He was convicted and fined $2O, On a charge of wilfully damaging a cell mattress cover, the property of the Police Department, he pleaded guilty and was convicted and fined $lO and ordered to pay restitution of $4.60. Sergeant Morgan said that the assault charge arose after the man had been arguing with his wife, from whom he was separated, on the evening of June 12. As the police were escorting the man from the woman’s house, he lunged forward and struck her a backhand blow on her face. He was slightly affected by liquor.

BURGLAR SENTENCED ' Richard Rerehau Rukl, aged 18, I unemployed (Mr E. T. Higgins), , appeared for sentence on two charges of burglary, a charge of assault, and one of attempting 1 to obtain $7B by false pretences.. He was released on probation for 12 months on all four charges and ordered to pay 840 prosecution costs. A special condition of probation Is that he lives and works where directed. DRIVING CHARGES Peter John Heyder, aged 29, a storeman (Mr P. F. Tempera), appeared for sentence on charges of driving with excessive alcohol in his blood, driving while disqualified, falling to stop after an accident, and falling to ascertain if anyone was injured. He was remanded on ball to June 17 for a medical report. Mr Tempera said that the defendant was heavily under the Influence of alcohol at the time the offences were committed. The drinking was a result of domestic worries. Heyder was prepared to take out a prohibition order. THEFT A girl, whose name was suppressed (Mr M. J. Glue), appeered for sentence on a charge of stealing property valued at *26.50. The case was adjourned to September 13 for another’report from the probation service. OBSCENE LANGUAGE Steven William Farrell, aged 20, a seaman, was fined $2O when he pleaded guilty to using obscene language In the British Hotel on June 12. SLEPT IN TARPAULIN A man who was found asleep In a tarpaulin, at the side of the road was remanded on ball until June 28 Leopold Auaru Anderson, aged 21, unemployed, pleaded guilty to charges of being Idle and disorderly, stealing a bicycle valued at $2O, and stealing a tarpaulin valued at $4O. Sergeant W. J. Nlcholl said that the defendant was found asleep at 2.15 a.m. under a hedge in Ensors Road. He was wrapped in a tarpaulin which he admitted taking from an empty railway carriage. A cycle was found nearby covered with branches. Anderson said he had taken it from Essex Street on June 10 because his foot was sore. In explanation, the defendant said he had had a fight with his girl-friend three weeks ago 1 and had been sleeping out ever . since. TOOK CAR , On a charge of unlawfully taking a car on June 12. Peter 1 George Hutchins, aged 21, unemployed, was convicted and remanded on ball to June 23 for sentence. He pleaded guilty. TRAFFIC CHARGE In a traffic prosecution brought by the police David lan Mullens was convicted and fined $2O and ordered to pay witnesses’ expenses of $6.50 when he pleaded guilty to a charge of falling to give way to the right. (Before Mr W. F. Brown. S.M.) TRAFFIC CASES In Ministry of Transport prosecutions convictions entered and fines Imposed, with court costs of $5 each, were:— Exceeded 30 miles an hour: Robert John Main, $2O; John Albert McClelland. $10; Mavis Rogers, $8; Malcolm Leonard Rathgen, $8; Brian William Tregurtha, $3O; Michael Edward Coutts, $2O; Norman Bruce Church, $25; Maureen Dawson, $10; Anthony William Chamberlain, $2B; Osmyn Granger Oakley, $l2; George Edward Holden. $10; Leo Joseph Wenborn, $3O; Fred Milesi. $10; lan Francis Meeking, $l2; Leslie Stephen Gosling, $10; Robert Andrew Graham. $l2; Raymond Allan Field, $2B; Anthony Peter Chamberlain, $10; George Stephen Cox. $3O; Thomas William Judd, s2o; Brian John Merrick, $10; Paul Thomas O’Keefe. $18; Jacqueline Ross, $10; Robyn Katherine Urquhart, S’; Dennis Webb, $l2; Walter emard Fletcher, $10; Colin William Green, $l5; Dorothy Ihala, $8: Valmae Annette Oetgen, $lO. Failed to comply with stop sign: Grant Kenneth Maynard, $6; Wullam John Inkpen, $10; Stanley Cooper, $3O. ordered to attend traffic safety lectures; Joseph Turner Griffiths, $10; Robert Hugh Barber, $10; George Currie. $10; Harold Desmond Peek, $lB. Careless uae: Grant Michael Bates, $25; Michael Douglas Seelcn, $lO. Drove while disqualified: Kevin Horne, $5O. disqualified for two months. Failed to comply with traffic lights: Brian Michael Pegg, $25. Failed to keep left: Lyndsay Valentine Gray, $lO.