magistrate's court Man caught in trap set by firm

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33941, 6 September 1975, Page 9

magistrate's court Man caught in trap set by firm

A man caught in a trap set by a city car-wrecking firm was convicted on seven charges of theft of goods worth $807.15 when he appeared before Mr F. G. Paterson, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Alan Crampton, a tussock grubber, was remanded to September 12 for sentence.

Sergeant J. C. Rowe said that staff of the wrecking company had noticed the disappearance of the goods and had set a trap to catch the thief. When apprehended by the police the defendant, aged 20, stated he had removed all the property in two visits. He stated that he had no explanation for the thefts and said he had no use for the goods taken. The defendant pleaded guilty to all charges. INTENT TO DEFRAUD A 19-year-old storeman who used a rubber stamp and order book he bought from a stationer to obtain parts and accessories for his car was convicted and remanded on bail until September 12 for sentence when he pleaded guilty to five charges of false representation with intent to defraud.

Sergeant Moore said that Trevor Alan Goodwin had obtained goods worth a total of $197 by visiting the suppliers with an order book and rubber stamp using the name of Prebbleton Motors, Ltd.

When spoken to by the police, the defendant said he used to work for the complainant firm. He needed things for his car, but had no money to buy them.

BURGLARY OF GARAGE A young man who was seen by police hiding something under his jacket as he walked along Pages Road was found to be carrying a cash box and hammer belonging to a nearby service station, the court was told.

Anthony William Humm, unemployed, pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering the premises oi Bexley Garage, and was convicted. He was remanded until September 12 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant Rowe said the defendant was seen walking down the road with a friend about 9 p.m. on August 28. He was carrying something under his jacket, and this was found to be a cash-box containing about $175, and a hammer. The owner of the Bexley Garage was contacted and it was found that the safe had been broken into. He identified the cash box and hammer as coming from the garage. The defendant refused to co-operate with the police, and said the articles were his. ESCAPING Peter Thomas Shearer, aged 29, was convicted and remanded until September 12 for sentence when he pleaded guilty to a charge of escaping from the custody of the Rolleston Prison on August 31. Sergeant Rowe said the defendant had been allowed week-end leave but failed to return. On September 4 he attempted to board a flight to Australia at Christchurch Airport The defendant said he had argued with his de facto wife while on leave and had decided not to return because he was feeling very depressed. CANNABIS POSSESSION Peter Norman Mann, aged 24, an ambulance drivei from Melbourne, was convicted and fined $lOO when he pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing cannabis. Sergeant Rowe said that on September 7 customs officers at Christchurch airport found a small amount of plant material in the defendant’s camera case during a routine search. This was analysed as about three grams of cannabis and about two grams of hashish. The defendant told the police that he had bought it in Melbourne for his own use while on holiday in New Zealand. BURGLARY Three young men who were apprehended by the police at the rear of a residence in possession of two radios readily admitted breaking into the house saying they needed money, the Court was told. All were unemployed. Gary Robert Burt, aged 21, Paul Anthony Martin, aged 19 and Manuariki Kouka, aged 18, all pleaded guilty to the charge and were convicted. Burt and Martin were remanded to September 12 for sentence, Kouka is to appear for sentence on September 9. Sergeant Rowe said that the police apprehended the men at the scene of the crime. The defendant Kouka said that he had broken the window with a hammer and that Martin had removed the radios, valued at $75. REMANDED

On his appearance an two charges of assault, Te Ringa Mangu Mihaka told the Magistrate that he generally considered that the legal aid scheme was a “fraudulent service” and that he no longer required the services of his “learned counsel.” In reply, the Magistrate told Mihaka, a prison inmate, that that was his own affair if he wanted to dismiss his counsel. He was re-

manded to November 5 for the taking of depositions on his plea of not guilty to the charges. PERIODIC DETENTION Robert John Neville, aged 18, an apprentice sheet metal worker, w r as sentenced to periodic detention for six months when he appeared for sentence on a charge of possessing cannabis. He had previously pleaded guilty and been convicted.

For the defendant, Miss J. M. Drake, said he had obtained the 14 sticks of cannabis for some acquaintances who had then declined to buy it when they heard the price. He had not planned to profit from the transaction but was passing the cannabis on at the same price at which he had bought it. He did not realise the gravity of the offence. When the police questioned him he had been cooperative and helpful. The defendant had already suffered for his actions having been suspendel from his job, she said. The Magistrate said the offence was a grave one. It involved the defendant in an “insidious business which can undermine people’s lives.” BURGLARY Leslie James Lilley, aged 18, a labourer, was convicted and remanded to September 12 for sentence when he appeared on two charges of burglary. He pleaded guilty to both charges. Sergeant Rowe said that on September 3 the premises of Nightingale Products, Ltd, were entered by the removal of an office window and tools valued at $5lO were taken. Later that evening the premises of Barker Sales, Ltd, were entered by the removal of a plaster panel and goods to the value of $283 I were taken. When apprehended by the police the defendant could offer no explanation for the offences. ASSAULT Rutene Lanceford Preistley was convicted, and ordered to come up for sentence within six months if called upon, on a charge of assaulting Stephen John Homer. Homer told the Court that he had been pushed from behind by the defendant while looking at exhibits in the Canterbury Museum. The defendant threatened Homer and two friends, saying he was going to “clobber” them. He said he would be waiting outside the museum for them. He went outside and stood by the door. The complainant called the police. In evidence, the defendant said that he had no recollection of pushing the complainant. He denied having said anything to him. The Magistrate said he was satisfied that the incident had taken place. The defendant was not entitled to behave in this way, he said. THEFT' OF JEANS Janice Margaret Gilling, aged 17, a factory worker, was convicted after pleading guilty to a charge of stealing a pair of jeans from Beath and Company. She was remanded on bail until September 12 for a probation report and sentence. The Court was told that the defendant had taken five pairs of jeans and her shopping bag into a changing room to try them on. She brought only four pairs of jeans out of the room, saying she did not want to buy any. The manager asked her if he could look in her bag. She refused and ran out of the shop. She was stopped on the street and the jeans recovered from the bag. She ran away again, but was later apprehended by the police. She admitted taking the jeans. BORSTAL TRAINING “The only possible sentence in your case is to return you to Borstal,” the Magistrate said when sentencing Ricky Warren Richardson, aged 17. Richardson had previously pleaded guilty to two charges of receiving, four of burglary and three of theft, seven of them convicted while he was on bail on the other two. For the defendant, Mr K. S. Osborn said the burglaries and theft were committed when the defendant “went on a rampage” with an associate while waiting for the receiving charges to be heard. IMPRISONMENT Robert William Hitchcox was convicted and sentenced to four months imprisonment on a charge of escaping from Addington Prison. He had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge. Sergeant Moore said that the defendant was granted permission to work outside the prisonOn September 1 the defendant’s employer phoned the prison saying that the defendant had disappeared from work. He was found at a friend's home at mid-day the next day. In explanation to the police, the defendant, aged 21, said that he had “had enough of prison and wanted , to see his girlfriend.” Counsel, Mr R. G. Mills, ; said that the offence was

prompted by emotional pressure, and that the defendant had low academic achievements. Involvement with liquor had been a part in the defendant’s former instability and his girlfriend had a stabilising effect upon him. He had earlier been sentenced to a period of 12 months imprisonment. PROBATION A 17-year-old youth who had gone on a spree after a party causing damage to the value of $212 was convicted and put on 12 months probation, ordered to pay $lO6 compensation and ordered to do 100 hours community work when he appeared for sentence on six charges of wilful damage. Gary Russel Hay, aged 17, a forestry worker, had earlier pleaded to all the charges.

Sergeant B. H. Palmer had said that the defendant and an associate went to a party at Sheffield on May 17. They had caused trouble and were forcibly removed. They then started walking home. At the Sheffield Post Office he kicked in a window in a telephone box door.

In a yard the defendant found a tractor and drove over three metal shutters. Later at a railway crossing the defendant threw stones at the warning lights breaking them. Further down the road the defendant broke five windows at the Sheffield primary school and further on bent an Automobile Association sign. When questioned by the police the defendant denied all knowledge of the offences. Counsel, Mr A. A. P. Willy, said that the defendant was easily led into this type of behaviour and submitted that the offences had been brought on by “drink.” PROBATION A youth who had previously been convicted after pleading guilty to charges of assault, wilful damage and using obscene language, was released on probation for 18 months. His name was suppressed. Mr A. K. Grant submitted that the charges arose from disharmony in the household between the defendant and his parents. His mother had taunted him about the period he spent at Sunnyside Hospital. The defendant was anxious, insecure, and unstable, partly as a result of domestic disharmony. He had already been remanded to Sunnyside for four weeks, and this was punishment enough. The Magistrate said that the charges appeared at first to be ominous and indicative of a substantial misbehaviour problem. Looking at them in depth, however, they did arise from a domestic dispute in a household where such disputes were not uncommon. If the defendant had been taunted, he was justified in being upset. The defendant was showing signs of settling, but if he offended again he would have to be placed in some form of detention. COMMUNITY WORK An unemployed youth who urinated against a building in Cathedral Square shortly after 10 p.m. on Thursday was convicted and released on probation for one year, with the special condition that he do 50 hours of community work. Gary James Ball, aged 18, pleaded guilty to a charge of behaving in an offensive manner in a public place. The Magistrate tdld him his behaviour was "disgusting in the extreme.” BLOOD ALCOHOL Derek George Moore, a student, was convicted and put on probation for 12 months, disqualified from driving for 18 months, and ordered to do 100 hours community work on a charge of driving with an excess blood alcohol level (260 mg He pleaded guilty. (Before Mr W. F. Brown, S.M.) BORSTAL TRAINING Following conviction in the Children’s and Young Persons’ Court, Richard Graeme Morgan, aged 16, unemployed, was sentenced in the Magistrate’s Court to Borstal training on charges of burglary, theft, false pretences, and unlawful possession of a weapon. Mr M. J. Glue, for the defendant, submitted that the defendant was a good worker and was highly thought of by his employer. He had ability and had made a positive attempt to do something about his difficulties.

He had had a very unfortunate start. Mr Glue asked that the defendant be left in the community, and recommended a fine and community wprk as punishment The Magistrate said the defendant had had a very unhappy life to date, but this could not justify some of the things he had done. He had stolen $415 worth of goods from tearooms at Sumner, and $866 worth of goods from Tommy’s Suzuki Centre.

He had been operating as a professional burglar. In view of the present spate of burglaries, the public interest was paramount