MAGISTRATE'S COURT Magistrate’s “duty” to imprison man

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33650, 27 September 1974, Page 6

MAGISTRATE'S COURT Magistrate’s “duty” to imprison man

“I can’t see any particular good coming to the defendant. I except keeping him out of 1 trouble, but my duty is to Jm- ' prison him,” 5,r H. J. Evans. ■ S.M., said in the Magistrate’s : Court yesterday when sentencing a man who appeared on 17 I charges to 18 months imprisonment.

Kenneth Francis Percy, aged 34, a farm labourer (Mr T. L. Sissonsi. had previously pleaded guiltv to 11 charges of burglary, five charges of unlawfully taking a car, and one charge of unlawfully getting into a car. The charges related to offences committed between July 3 and August 30.

He was also disqualified from driving for 18 months Mr Sissons said that the defendant was a borderline case who needed psychiatric help, but this was only available on a committal basis and Percy was not eligible.

As the result of “misguided loyalty.” Percy had done many of the burglaries to help friends. He was a meek person who bore no malice to anyone. CARS TAKEN Tani Raymond King, aged 17. unemployed (Mr I. J. D. Hall), was sentenced to three months periodic detention, given 12 months probation, and disqualified from driving for 12 months when he appeared for sentence on three charges of unlawfully taking a car and one charge of unlawfully getting into a car. He had previously pleaded guilty and been convicted. EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL Graham John Ellis, aged 36, a foreman (Mr J. G. Fogarty), was given three months periodic detention, and disqualified from driving for 18 months when he appeared for sentence on a I charge of driving with an excesI sive blood-alcohol concentration 275 m?) on July 27. He had prei viously pleaded guilty and been convicted.

Huia Ranginui. aged 37 (Mr T. M. Abbott), was disqualified from driving for 12 months and senlenced to four months periodic detention on each charge when he appeared for sentence on charges of driving while disqualified and driving with an excessive blood-alcohol concentration (179mg>. He had previously

■ been convicted when he pleaded guilty to the charges. (Before Mr K H. J. Headifen. S.M.i FALSE PRETENCE Kevin Joseph Wood, aged 26, a prison inmate, pleaded guilty to eight charges of false pretence. He was convicted and remanded in custody to October 3 for sentence. Senior-Sergeant G. A. Clewer said Wood used cheques from a stolen book to obtain money and goods worth $260.70 from business firms in Dunedin and Tirnaru. SHOPLIFTING On a charge of stealing two dresses worth $17.49 from Haywrights. Ltd. on August 2. Katterina Karlytzky, aged 17, unemployed, was convicted and fined $23. She pleaded guilty. Mr R. B. Leete. who appeared for the defendant as duty solicitor said the influence of the defendant's associate was largely responsible for the offence. The defendant was ashamed of what she had done and went voluntarily to the police station. THEFT OF RECORDS

Ria Morgan, aged 19, a factory hand (Mr D. 11. P. Dawson), pleaded guiltv to a charge of stealing, with two other persons, 10 records worth $31.79 from the Record Factory, on July 23. She was convicted and remanded on bail to October 3 for sentence. STOLE BEER Daniel Spencer Palmer, aged 20. an unemployed fitter and turner (Mr D. 11. P. Dawson), was convicted and fined a total of S3O when he pleaded guilty to one charge of stealing 12 bottles of beer and a wooden crate, worth $4.20, from the Club Tavern on September 18, and one charge of using obscene language in a public place on September 18. (Before Mr W. F. Brown, S.M.) CAR THEFT Adrian Kenneth Myatt, aged 17. an unemployed factory hand (Mr G. M. Brodie), was convicted and remanded in custody until todav lor sentence on a charge of theft of a car worth $l2OO, the property of Peter Were, on September 7. He pleaded not guilty. Mr Were told the Court he parked the car at the Hornby Rugby league rooms to attend a function there about 8.30 p.m. He said that when he went to

go home about 12.45 a.m. on September 8 the car was gone. A farmer tn Greendale telephoned the police and said there was an abandoned car in his field. Constable K. A. Munro went to the farm and found the cathidden behind a belt of trees. He said the ear had been extensively damaged, all its windows had been broken, and the seats were pulled out on to the ground. The car had been driven through a gate and had been backet into a tree stump several: times, the constable said. The ear had collided with four telegraph poles on Clintons Road. Mr Were said a cassette-stereo valued al■ S2BO, a set of tools valued at $3OO and a pair of gym shoes were removed from the car. He said he knew the defendant because he was working for the same company, but had been fired the day before the theft took place. A charge of wilful damage was; withdrawn by the police with the leave of the Court.