MAGISTRATE’S COURT 'Playful’ dog attacked Papanui cyclists

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33671, 22 October 1974, Page 19

MAGISTRATE’S COURT 'Playful’ dog attacked Papanui cyclists

A “playful” dog cost its owner, Alan James Cowan, a total of $3O in fines when he pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to two charges of being the owner of a dog which attacked a per.son. Detective Sergeant T. J. Gorman said two complainants had been attacked five times in the last three months as they rode past the defendant’s home in Papanui Road. Cowan was fined $l5 on both charges by Mr F. G. Paterson, S.M. One complainant, who was a woman, had spoken to Cowan after being attacked twice, but the dog rushed at her several days later, Detective Sergeant Gorman said. .. On the first occasion, the dog bit the complainant on the ankle, and on the second, knocked her from her bicycle. . She took “appropriate action” to keep the dog at bay on the third occasion. The other complainant was also bitten on the ankle. Cowan said he could not understand why his dog had developed the habit of attacking people on bicycles, and that the actions of the animal were only playful.

THEFT FROM CAR Stephen Hugh Francis, aged 17. unemployed (Mr J. G Mat thews), was sentenced to deten tier centre training when he appeared on a charge of stealing with two other persons art *£l® s worth $29 from a car on September 22. He h ad P™ vlo “;j l n y pleaded guilty and been con ' special conditions of the 12-month probat iona^ ncl after his release. Francis was Ordered to live and work where directed and not to associate with persons not approved of bv the probation officer. \fi Matthews said Francis was not the instigator of the offence 2nd he e Played a relatively minor part in it. PERIODIC DETENTION Periodic detention for six months and disqualification from Arivin? for one year was imposed on Brian Leslie Wendt, aged 26. a car wrecker, when he was sentenced on c h^f® s ° d driving while disqualified ana

assaulting a traffic officer on October 6. Wendt (Mr W. S. Smith), had previously pleaded guilty and had been convicted. The period of disqualification is concurrent with the present term which expires in 1977. The Magistrate said Wendt had six other convictions for driving while disqualified. THEFT FROM TRUCK Gordon French, aged 29. a rubber worker, was convicted and remanded on bail to October 29 for sentence when he pleaded guilty to charges of unlawfully entering a truck and stealing a cassette tape recorder. Detective Sergeant Gorman said the complainant found the defendant sitting in his truck after he had left it for about two hours in Oxford Terrace. A struggle ensued and the defendant ran off into some gardens. He was later apprehended by the police and admitted stealing the tape recorder from the truck. ATTEMPTED THEFT A woman, whose name was suppressed, was convicted and remanded on bail until October 29 for sentence when she pleaded guilty to attempting to steal a shirt valued at $l9. Detective Sergeant Gorman said that the defendant, aged 21. a social welfare beneficiary, went to the Jean Theme shop in Gloucester Arcade and put the shirt in her bag. She was apprehended by a shop assistant before leaving the shop and the police were called.

LITTER OFFENCE Campbell Wiremu Luke, aged 20. a miantenance layer, was placed on probation for 12 months and ordered to do 50 hours community work when he was convicted on a charge of wilfully breaking a bottle in a public place. He pleaded guilty. Detective Sergeant Gorman said that the defendant had been a passenger in a car travelling south just north of Ashburton on September 1. While the car was stopped on the side of the road the defendant had thrown an empty beer bottle at a passing car. The bottle struck the car and smashed on the road. In explanation he said the driver of the passing car had previously annoyed the driver of the car he was in. He had not intended to hit it. he said. THEFT OF TILES Peter John Brown, aged 30, a factory labourer (Mr K. J. Jones), was convicted placed on probation for 12 months, fined $l5O and ordered to pay $67 compensation when he pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing one carton and a half of mosaic tiles. Detective Sergeant Gorman said that the defendant had been apprehended after a complaint by Winstones. South Island, Ltd. It was alleged that stock was being stolen by company employees. The defendant had freely admitted the charge. DANGEROUS RIDING Peter Donald Darrell, aged 21, a blocklaying contractor, was fined $lOO and had his driver’s licence cancelled for six months when he was convicted on a charge of riding a motor-cycle in a manner which may have been dangerous. He pleaded guilty. Detective Sergeant Gorman told the Court that on October 20 the defendant had travelled at speeds of up to 80 m.p.h. on Madras Street, weaving from right to left across the road. After crossing three intersections he had lost control and crashed and was thrown off his motor-cycle. (Before Mr 11. J, Evans, S.M.) EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL Six persons were sentenced to periodic detention on charges of driving with an excessive bloodalcohol level. Penalties for these and other offenders are as follows: Dennis Chobdzyski (261 mg three months periodic detention, disqualification for 18 months; Robert Bruce Clark (198 mg three months periodic detention, 12 months; Peter Nicholas Mallitte (216 mg two months periodic detention, 18 months; Thomas John Shaw i2o7mg), fined $175. 18 months; Philip Smith (214 mg two months periodic detention. 18 months; Ivan Watene (200 mg six weeks periodic detention, 18 months; Matthew Wayne Pako, driving while disqualified. three months periodic detention, six months.