MAGISTRATE’S COURT Couple failed to pay motel charges

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33534, 15 May 1974, Page 11

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Couple failed to pay motel charges

Two persons who pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to a series of offences of obtaining credit by fraud and theft were remanded on bail to May 21 for sentence by Mr F. G. Paterson, S.M. They are Ashley Norman Harris aged 26. a welder (Mr R. B. Leete). and Susan Mary Matahaere, aged 25. a married woman (Mr N R. W Davidson). Harris was convicted on his pleas to 12 charges of obtaining credit by fraud, five charges of theft, one charge of receiving, and one charge of unlawfully converting a car. Matahaere was convicted on her pleas to 10 charges of obtaining credit by fraud and five charges of theft. Sergeant K. T. Boyle said that the offences were committed in Christchurch. Greymouth, Nelson, Wellington, and Picton between April 12 and May 3. The offences of obtaining credit by fraud committed by Harris involved motel accommodation amounting to $359.20. The same offences committed by Matahaere involved motel accommodation amounting to $290.20. The five charges of theft in respect of both defendants involved radios and a toaster worth $lB4. DANGEROUS DRIVING A youth who admitted doing “smokies” on a patch of diesel oil in High Street, Leeston, on February 17. pleaded guilty to charges of driving In a dangerous manner and depositing offensive litter on the street He is Lindsay George Greenwood, aged 17. an apprentice coach builder. Greenwood was placed on probation for one year, ordered to undertake 24 hours of community work, and disqualified from driving for six months from May 28. Jergeant Boyle told the Court that Greenwood admitted pouring diesel oil on the street and accelerating sharply in it to generate clouds of smoke. This was known as doing "smokies.” Mr J. L. Woodward, who appeared for Greenwood, said that the patch of oil on the roadway was not large, and the danger was small. It was a minor offence under the Litter Act. STREAKING CHARGE "Your nude figures are not very aesthetic,” the Magistrate told two young men who streaked in Cathedral Square for a $lO bet late in the evening of May 6. Colin Hunter, aged 19, a storeman (Mr M. J. Glue), and Wayne Stuart Manson, aged 19, a press operator (Mr G. C. Knight), were each fined $2O when they were convicted on a charge if disorderly behaviour. They both pleaded guilty. Sergeant Boyle said that the defendants ran naked from the rear of the Cathedral across the road and down Worcester Street. The attention of persons was attracted bv the defendants calling out loudly and laughing. Mr Glue said that Hunter’s offence was not serious. At that late hour those in the Square would be entertained rather than affronted bv the streakers, who had found streaking a chilly and embarrassing pursuit. They were apprehended outside the Land Transfer Office.

Mr Knight said that Manson had been drinking. The laughing and calling out was attributed to the spectators. THEFT CHARGES John Herbert Costello, ased 43, unemployed, pleaded guilty to two charges of theft of money totalling $l5, from the staff room of a shop In Victoria Street. Mr N. R. W. Davidson, appearing for the defendant, said that unemployment for some time had driven Costello to commit the offences. The defendant was convicted and released on probation for 12 months, instructed to carry out 72 hours of community work, and to return the money. FALSE FIRE CALL A man who gave a false alarm of fire on March 9 was released on probation for one year and ordered to undertake 45 hours of community work when be pleaded guilty to a charge of wilfully giving the alarm.

Sergeant Boyle said Paul Francis Roberts, aged 22, a factory worker (Mr M. J. French), called at the police station on the day that a false 111 call was made to the Christchurch Fire Brigade. He admitted making the call, and said that he was dared to do it by others with whom he was drinking. He had been heavily intoxicated at. the time. Costs of S4B were incurred by the call. Mr French said that Roberts was goaded into making the call, and his responsibility was diminshed by the amount he had drunk. He had apologised to the brigade, and had paid the $4B. TRIAL ELECTED A man, whose name was suppressed in the interim, was remanded on bail to June 26 for the taking of depositions on a charge of unlawfully taking a van worth $2500, the property of Armoured Freightways, Ltd, on May 14. Mr R. S. D. Twyneham, who

appeared for the defendant as duty solicitor, said that the defendant had been a mentolhospital patient for nine months. REMAND TO HOSPITAL A girl, whose name was suppressed in the interim, was remanded to Sunnyside Hospital until May 21 for a psychiatric examination when she appeared on a charge of assaulting Constable Gloria Ann Lee on May 11 with intent to injure her. No plea w-as entered. BLOOD ALCOHOL Robert Edward Stiles, aged 30, a fitter, was convicted and fined $l5O, disqualified for one year, and ordered to pay medical expenses of $l5, when he appeared on a charge of driving with excessive blood alcohol (184 mg He pleaded guilty. (Before Mr P. L. Molineaux, S.M.) LICENSING CASE Patrons attending the Checkers Cabaret at the Embassy Hotel were not entitled to be supplied

with liquor outside the normal licensing hours unless they went to the cabaret with the intention of having a substantial meal and had the meal, said the Magistrate. Patrick Attwood Smith was fined $lO on a charge that, being the licensee of the Embassy Hotel in Manchester Street, he sold liquor to Philip Charles Leathart between 10.30 p.m. and 11.30 p.m. on. November 23 when he was not authorised to do so. Mr Smith, who was represented by Mr S. G Erber, pleaded not -guilty Tile Magistrate" said that persons who went to the cabaret to drink and dance were not entitled to be supplied with liquor. Mr Leathart had given evidence that he had gone to Checkers Cabaret for something to do after the hotels closed. He had paid $1 to enter the bar, where he purchased liquor. He did not have a meal, and said that no mention was made of a meal. The facts of the sale of liquor were not in dispute, and the defendant relied upon the provisions of a special dining permit issued by the Licensing Control Commission which authorised him to sell liquor to persons after the normal closing hours provided those persons were on the premises to have a substantial meal, and had that meal. On this day the defendant was authorised to sell liquor to such persons between 10 p.m. and 11.30 p.m. ‘ It was important to remember ; that Mr Smith was charged in his vicarious liability as licensee, ! and w’as not present when the offence was committed. After , the Checkers Cabaret had survived an earlier prosecution, Mr Smith’s solicitors had sent him a letter of advice in how to tighten up on the screening procedures so that persons could not obtain liquor without having a meal. The Magistrate said that he was satisfied that Mr Smith was not running a w sly-grog operation” under the cover of the cabaret.