Henchmen sentenced

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33774, 21 February 1975, Page 3

Henchmen sentenced

Four members and associates of the Devil’s Henchmen motor-cycle gang who had earlier been convicted on charges of unlawful assembly at Dunn Street on November 4, appeared for sentence in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr P. L. Molineaux.

They are Gary Reginald Baker, aged 18 (Mr 1. C. J.

Polson); Thomas William Swarbrick, aged 17 (Mr R. J. Murfitt); Barry Raymond Hayes, aged 27 (Mr D. J. R. Holderness); and Warner Richard Scott, aged 19 (Mr Holderness).

Hayes was sentenced to three months imprisonment on the charge of unlawful assembly. The Magistrate said the

defendant was older than most of the other members of the gang. In the case of younger members their behaviour was part of their adolescent expression and showed a level of immaturity. Hayes was a different matter and was old enough to know better.

Baker was sentenced to five months periodic detention on the charge of unlawful assembly. Swarbrick, who had earlier been convicted on the charge of unlawful assembly and a charge of breaking a window was sentenced to four months periodic detention on each charge, to be served concurrently, and ordered to make restitution of $5 for the broken window.

Scott, was further remanded on bail to February 27 for a medical report and sentence. Peter Ronald Darrell, aged 19 (Mr W. H. McMenamin), who appeared for sentence on one charge of being in possession of a rifle without a permit and one charge of being found on a property in Shaw Avenue on November 4 was placed on probation I for 12 months. He was ordered to work and reside where dlrec ted by the probation officer. Mr McMenamin said that Dar- ; rell had borrowed the gun to protect himself. “The defendant , was swept up by the excitement of gang warfare as most of the .young people were.” he said. Mr McMenamin described the defendant as a “shy, timid boy.” 'He said Darrell intended to get fully away from the gang. Baker and Swarbrick also appeared with Railton Howard Lucking, aged 17 (Mr W. H. MeMenamini before Mr H. J. Evans S.M., for sentence on a charge of assaulting Kevin Charles Isherwood on November 2.

They were both put on probation for 12 months and ordered to do 50 hours of community work.

At the defended hearing Isherwood said he had been outside 'a hamburger bar tn Seaview Road, New Brighton, when be had been attacked by members of the Devil’s Henchmen.

He had been hit with crash helmets, fists, boots, and a baton, and suffered blows to his head, face, ribs and bMy and abrasions to his legs. He later required stitches for a cut to the head.

Ship sails.—The Union freighter Holmbum, delayed at Onehunga for a week by dispute over payments with the seamen’s union, left yesterday afternoon for Norfolk Island and Lautoka.—<P.A.)