MAGISTRATES COURT Fines for attempt to import cannabis

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33253, 16 June 1973, Page 17

MAGISTRATES COURT Fines for attempt to import cannabis

“Make no mistake about it — you are playing with fire when you experiment with cannabis,” Mr F. G. Paterson, S.M., said in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday when sentencing a man and a woman on charges of having cannabis in their possession and attempting to import it. Robert Gerald Thomas, aged 22, an electrician, and Dianne Marie Bush, aged 20, a key-punch operator, were each fined a total of $250. They had previously pleaded guilty and been convicted. The Magistrate said it was [clear that both defendants: had been experimenting with I cannabis. What they had! attempted to imnort was fori their own use. There was no: suggestion that they were! dealing in it or intended to! share it with others. “Any financial penalty is a hardship to you, but you are[ both quite able to earn the; money to meet such penal-1 ties.” the Magistrate said. “This is a lenient penalty! for the importing charge! ($200), but it is not light for you.” he said. Mr G. R. Lascelles, for the ■ defendants, submitted that, the quantity of cannabis! involved in both charges was! small. The attempt to import it arose from a very informal arrangement entered into during a discussion among friends. “Neither have been before the Court before or shown any propensity for criminal conduct,” he said. “This was an isolated lapse of a minor nature.” CONVERTED TRUCK Brian Desmond Moore, aged 25, a driver (Mr M. J. Glue), was sentenced to periodic detern

tion for three months when lie ' appeared on a charge of un- ■ lawfully taking a truca. He was i also put on probation lor months, and disqualified from ’ driving for six months. 1 Moore's conviction was his second for this offence. The truck was taken from a carrier’s yard in Christchurch on ; June 3. I Mr Glue said that Moore was normally well behaved and a reliable, conscientious worker . but had a liquor problem. The offence had been committed alter a domestic dispute and a 1 bout of drinking. The Magistrate said that Moore had been released on probation after his first offence. 1 “Four years ago, y«i took a breweries truck and brought the ; wrath of Christchurch on your back by damaging the Bridge 'of ■ Remembrance,” he said. I Moore had almost paid off the [ls6oo restitution ordered after ' the previous offence, the Magistrate said. He ordered »r.OO na..i tution for the present offence. :! WILFUL DAMAGE ,1 George Patrick Shannon, aged i 38, unemployed (Mr -M. P. (Boyce), was imprisoned for 14 : days when he appeared on charges of wilfully damaging a J glass door to the value of SSO. land depositing dangerous litter ■ lin Manchester Street. ' The sentence is to be served i concurrently with a term <■- one (month at present being served (for non-payment of fines. EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL On a charge of driving with an excessive blood-alcoho) con- ■ centration (217 milligrams) on I March 27. thereby causing ini jury to another person. Ray-

mond Neville Needham, aged 26, i a farmer, who pleaded guilty, 1 was convicted and fined $250 and' disqualified from driving for 18 months from June 29. WILFUL DAMAGE Philip John Airsworth, aged 17, and John Moffatt Millar, aged 20, both fork-lift operators, pleaded guilty to a charge of wilfully damaging a telephone booth on June 14. Millar was convicted and fined $5O, and Airsworth convicted and fined $4O. Both defendants were ordered to pay restitution of $3 and disqualified from driving for six months. CAR CONVERSION Christopher Lawrence Wanhalla, aged 17, a factory hand (Mr M. J. Glue), was sentenced Jto detention centre training when he appeared on four I charges of unlawfully takingl I motor-vehicles, two charges of; buglary, and two of theft. He; I had previously been convicted. THEFT OF BEER Wendy Allison Weir, aged 17,: a process worker (Mr P. J. I Allan), pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing 23 pint bottles of beer, worth $8.05, from the Forresters Tavern on May 31. i She was convicted and fined $25 and put on probation for one 'year with the special condition (that she abstains from alcohol. ! DAMAGE TO MOTOR-CYCLE Benjamin Charles Sassen, aged ! 19, a freezing worker, was fined j $5O and put on probation for 12 -months when sentenced on a charge of wilfully damaging a I motor-cycle at Wellington on January 2. THEFT OF TOOLS i Alan Geoffrey Nicholson, aged 25. a tyre fitter, was fined $l5O when sentenced on a charge of stealing tools worth $B5 from a car. He had previously pleaded guilty. STOLE CARDIGAN Gail Margaret Lees, aged 19 (Mr R. J. Murfitt), was remanded to June 22 for sentence after pleading guilty to stealing a cardigan worth $15.50 from a boutique in Christchurch on I June 7. Detective Sergeant R. J. Miller said Lees had placed the cardigan in a shopping bag while the premises were briefly unattended. She had one previous conviction, he said. (Before Mr E. S. J. Crufchley, S.M.) BURGLARY OF TENT Six months periodic detention was imposed on a man who burgled a goldminer’s tent at Canvastown to get gold. Charles Henry Alexander -Ferris, aged 42, a driver’s assistant, was appearing for sentence on two charges of burglary after previously pleading guilty. Ferris was r.-dered to pay $32 restitution.