Magistrate’s Court $18,722 THEFT BY POSTMASTER

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32838, 11 February 1972, Page 11

Magistrate’s Court $18,722 THEFT BY POSTMASTER

Whiif employed as postmaster at Spreydon, Colin Edward Lennon, aged 33, misappropriated $18,722.61, Mr H. J. Evans, SAL, was told in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Lennon (Mr A. P. C. Tipping) pleaded guilty to nine! charges of theft from Mg employer and eight charges' of forging withdrawal receipts. Lennon was remanded on bail until February 18 for' sentence. The Magistrate said he would consider sending Lennon to the Supreme Court for sentence.

Detective Sergeant J. G. Howell said that Lennon had been postmaster of the Spreydon Post Office since 1966 and the offences occur-j red between June, 1968. and I last month, when he admit-: ted the offences. Lennon had, repaid $6700, but there was, still $12,022.61 outstanding. The Post Office sought restitution of this amount. Lennon first found himself in difficulties because of his gambling and took $5O to cover his gambling debts with the T.A.8., said Detective Sergeant Howell. He repaid this, but withdrew more and more money until it was Impossible to cover such a large shortage. Mr Tipping said tf\at the offences were brought to light on Lennon’s own confession. He could show references from prominent Christchurch people. NARCOTIC CHARGES Colin Rodney Lee. aged 23, a driver (Mr M. J. Glue), was convicted and remanded in custody to February 18 for sentence when he pleaded guilty to charges of possessing LSD and possessing a pipe for the purpose of using cannabis. On a charge of possessing LSD for the purpose of selling it to other persons, Lee was remanded to March 1 for the taking of depositions. No plea was entered on this charge. Detective Sergeant Howell said that when Lee’s bag was searched on February 8, between 80 and 90 small green and red tablets, and a pipe were found. Questioned by the police, Lee said he had found the tablets in a container and put them in his bag. He later admitted he had brought them from Palmerston North and knew they were LSD.

At first Lee said he did not take LSD,'but -then said he had tried it a few times but did not like it. He said he obtained the tablets on credit for $2.50 each from an American seaman in Auckland who was unknown to him. -

Lee told the police b» used cannabis with the pipe, which had been sent to him from India. He said he intended to continue smoking cannabis, said Detective Sergeant Howell. BURGLARY Trevor Walsh, aged 28, an unemployed builder’s labourer, and Douglas Walter Uren, aged 21. a j painter, were convicted and remanded to February 18 tor sentence for burglaries between January 6 and January 25. The defendants were represented by Mr I. C. J. Poison. • Walsh was charged with six burglaries and Uren with seven. Cash and goods to a value ot *2096 were stolen.

Detective Sergeant Howell said that business premises at Leeston. Uncoin, HalsweU. Oxford, and Dunsandel were burgled by both defendants and Uren admitted another burglary at Glentui. THEFT FROM FLATS Cariyn Elizabeth Rosel, aged 21, a waitress, pleaded guilty to charges of stealing a television aet and a coffee mug worth *203.45 on February 2 and stealing an electric steam iron and two pillows worth *lB on February 4. She was convicted and remanded on bail to February 18 for sentence. Detective Sergeant Howell said that the police received both complaints of theft on February 5 when the occupants of two flats in Durham Street returned from holiday. The defendant who had lived with the occupants of the flats, was interviewed on February 9. She admitted taking the articles. She said she sold the television set to a dealer for *6O.

ASSAULT Russell Brian Kerr, aged 20, an unemployed painter (Mr D. H. P. Dawson), was remanded on bail until February 18 when he pleaded guilty to assaulting Hughie Gordon Tiper, his stepfather.

Detective Sergeant Howell said 'that Mr Tiper was assaulted on |the footpath and suffered cuts Ito the face and mouth and bruises to an ear. Kerr had , been to a hotel to collect a large . amount of liquor to take home ; and his stepfather had told him Ihe could not take It into the i house.

Mr Dawson said that Kerr had a conviction for assault.

BURGLARY Donald Kenneth Kennett, aged '2l, an unemployed labourer, was convicted and remanded on bail :to February 18 for sentence iwhen he pleaded guilty to a charge of burgling a house on I January 20.

Sergeant V. F. Townshend said I that the house was entered between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., KenInett forcing a window and breaking an inside door. He took articles worth *5. Kennett told the police that he intended to steal certain items which he had been told were in the house, but left hurriedly when he heard someone coming.

FINE OF *l5O Terrance Douglas Collins, aged 22, a carpenter, was convicted and fined *l5O when he pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a transistor radio worth *4O, the property of Alan Stephen Wood. Detective Sergeant Howell said that the complainant reported . the theft of the radio on December 11. He said he had left it tn his car in the car park lof the Hei Hei Community I Centre. When Collins was in- , terviewed on February 9 he admitted the theft. He told the police he had seen the complainant hide the radio and when he had gone he entered the car through an unlocked door and i took the radio. THEFT OF HELMET Thomas Lawrence John Healey. aged 20. a boat builder, was convicted and fined *2O when he ■ pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a crash helmet.

' Sergeant Townshend said that the complainant parked a motorcycle in the car park at the Hornby Trust Hotel on February 3. When he returned he found his crash helmet missing. He later saw Healey wearing the helmet and reported the matter to the police. When Hiprehended on February 10, exley admitted taking the helmet. He had just finished painting it a different colour.

FAILURE TO STOP Barry Vivian Seaboume. aged 19, a labourer, was fined *75 and disqualified for one year when he pleaded guilty to charges of falling to stop after an accident, falling to ascertain injury, attd falling to give way. Seabourae told the police he did not stop because he was too drunk.

REMAND IN CUSTODY On a charge of driving a car outside the terms of a partial exemption from disqualification, Raymond William Chenery, aged 25. a warehouseman (Mr R. B. Leete), was convicted and remanded in custody to February 18 for sentence. He pleaded guilty. Detective Sergeant Howell said that the defendant was found to be subject to a disqualification order when he was involved in a collision with a motor-cycle in Seaview Road on 1 December 5.

(Before Mr K. H. J. Headifen, S.M.) FOUR CHARGES Christopher John Puddle, aged 17, unemployed, was further remanded on bail until February 17 for a medical examination to determine his suitability for detention centre training. He was appearing for sentence on three charges of theft and one of wilful damage. At a previous hearing, evidence was given that Puddle searched cars in the Manchester Street and Lichfield Street car narks and took three radios. The willful damage charge related to a car which Puddle kicked.

PROBATION Peter David Tuaine, aged 21, a painter, was released on probation for two years when he anpeared for sentence on a charge of being unlawfully on the premises of St George’s Hospital. Conditions of probation are that he works and lives as directed, does not change his address without permission of the probation service, does not associate with persons not approved of, and undergoes a psychiatric examination and continues treatment as required. The Magistrate said it was tlie last occasion he would consider probation. At a previous appearance evidence was given that Tuaine was found in the corridor of the hospital at 3 a.m. He was not wearing shoes and said he was looking for an »>d lady he knew. BURGLARY Warren Lindsay Edkins, agedi 19, unemployed (Mr C. A. McVeigh), was remanded on bail un-( | til February 17 when he appeared for sentence on seven charges of burglary. The remand is for a medical examination to determine his suitability for detention centre training. Mr McVeigh said that Edkins had been out of trouble since 1968. He had got into bad company. but had learned his lesson and wanted to settle down after his punishment. The Magistrate said that at

first sight the offences merited Borstal training, as *2096 worth of property was taken and only *lOOO worth had been recoverd.

At an earlier hearing, evidence was given that service stations and grocers’ shops were burgled at Halswell, Dunsandel, Lincoln, Lees'ton, Oxford and Glentunnel. (Before Mr E. S. J. CrutcMey, S.M.) PERIODIC DETENTION

Awatea Crofts, aged 30, a labourer (Mr L. M. O’Reilly), was sentenced to periodic detention for one year and disqualified from driving for two years when he appeared on charges of driving while disqualified and driving while under the influence of drink or drugs. Mr O’Reilly said that Crofts had taken out a prohibition order and was determined to abide by its provisions. Crofts had previously pleaded guilty to both charges and been convicted. His alcohol concentration was 204 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood. FINE OF *2OO Stephen Frederick Reed, aged 22, a dairy factory worker (Mr M. J. Glue), was fined *2OO and ordered to attend a course of defensive driving when he appeared for sentence on a charge of driving with an excessive alcohol concentration. Reed had previously pleaded guilty and been disqualified for two years. His alcohol concentration was 234 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood. EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL “The Court would be more than justified in sending you to prison,” the Magistrate said when sentencing Tui Richard Thompson, aged 30, a drainlayer, to periodic detention for three months on a charge of driving with an excessive alcohol concentration.

Thompson (Mr M. J. Glue) had earlier been disqualified for two years on the charge. His alcohol level was 315 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood.