MAGISTRATE'S COURT Man who has spent half life in prisons gaoled again

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33963, 2 October 1975, Page 10

MAGISTRATE'S COURT Man who has spent half life in prisons gaoled again

A 45-year»old man who has spent more than half his life in penal institutions was yesterday sentenced in the Magistrate’s Court to one year’s gaol on a charge of unlawfully taking a car.

“The probation report shows that you are institutionalised and that no penalty is really likely to deter you from offending,” Mr E. S. J. Crutchley, S.M., told Rewi Sonny Tauria. “It really comes down to the protection of the public.” Tauna had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully taking a car, valued at $2OOO, from a private garage at Little River on March 15. The Court had heard that the car was found at Kurow, six days later where it had run out of petrol. In mitigation, Mr A. C. Hughes-Johnson said that the defendant had merely been walking past the garage and decided to take the car. It was an aimless action, especially since he had nowhere in particular to go. The defendant had spent 25 years in some form of detention and it was clear he could not handle alcohol or society, counsel said. Since the offence, however, he had been in Wellington and had stayed out of trouble. While in Wellington he had been on a sickness benefit because of an eye defect. [Possibly this steady income was the reason for his not [offending, said Mr HughesI Johnson.

“DRUG ADDICTS” Two young men who appeared on burglary charges, Including two of pharmacies, were drug addicts, submitted their counsel (Mr S. P. Graham). Christopher John Puddle, aged 21, and Mark Thomas Power, aged 20, both unemployed, both pleaded guilty to four charges of burglary. Power also pleaded guilty to charges of using morphine on September 28 and receiving a television set, valued at $2OO. Both men were convicted and remanded in custody to October 8 for sentence. Sergeant R. H. Proutlng said that all four burglaries were committed on September 29. The first was at the premises of Gaylene Hair Fashions, 35A Acheson Avenue. A rear door was forced and the two defendants kept watch while an associate went inside and broke down an interior wall leading to Barrons Gift Shop. Damage amounted to $lOO and property valued at more than $5O was taken from the gift shop. The next premises burgled were those of the Redwood Pharmacy, 288 Main North Road. Roofing iron was removed and the two defendants again kept watch outside while their associate went inside. This pharmacy had no drugs safe and only $2 change was taken, said Sergeant Prouting. However, damage amounted to $2OO.

The second pharmacy burgled was the Belfast Pharmacy, 758 Main North Road. Roofing iron was again removed and capsules of drugs, valued at $B5, taken. While at this pharmacy they were disturbed and they smashed the glass in the front door when leaving. Damage amounted to $4O. When the defendants were found in the city they had admitted the offences. Power had said he had been drunk earlier In

the day and Puddle had said he had a drug habit. Concerning the receiving charge, Sergeant Prouting said that on September 10 a hired television set was taken from a house. The occupant of the flat in which it was later found told the police that he had bought it for $2O from Power. When interviewed. Power had said that he had received it from an associate who had asked him to get rid of it. 11 MONTHS GAOL Douglas John Kydd, aged 20, was sentenced to 11 months imprisonment and put on one year’s probation when he appeared for sentence on a charge of burgling a New Brighton house. He had earlier pleaded guilty. Sergeant B. G. Saunders had earlier said that the defendant burgled the premises of Joseph Hodge in Union Street. The Magistrate said that the defendant had had every chance possible and Imprisonment was the only alternative. RECEIVED STEREO Douglas lan Wates, aged 20, a slaughterman, was convicted and sentenced to six months imprisonment on a charge of receiving a stereo set, valued at $1240. He had earlier pleaded guilty. Counsel. Mr S. P. Graham, said that the defendant had come from a small town to the city and had moved into a flat with four other youths. The defendant had wanted to buy a stereo set and had succumbed to the temptation of a cheap one. The offence was out of character, Sir Graham said. SIX MONTHS GAOL The Court had an obligation to make it quite plain to anybody receiving property that they must be deterred from doing so, the Magistrate told a man who appeared for sentence on a charge of receiving. Raymond Clive Neither, aged 27. a pastry cook (Mr P. J. Rutledge), was sent to prison for six months.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving 12 chainsaws and a hedge cutter worth a total of $2438, between July 11 and 12. Sergeant M. L. White said earlier that the goods had been taken in the burglary of the premises of R. L. Ray, Ltd. Neither had told police he had received three chainsaws on the morning of July 12, and sold them. The other nine chainsaws and the hedge cutter were recovered from the defendant’s place of employment, said Sergeant White. Mr Rutledge said it was appreciated that the Court took a serious view of the charge, especially as more than $2OOO was involved. The defendant had a number of previous convictions, although none for receiving. He had a stable family background, although financial difficulties were getting him down. The offence had seemed an easy way to make some monev, said Mr Rutledge. There was no premediation in the offence, and Neither was not involved in organised crime. Imprisonment would result in hardship to Neither’s family, counsel said. The Magistrate said that Neither had a number of previous convictions. The most recent were two for burglary in 1971 for which he had received nine months imprisonment. ft was true he had. financial difficulties, and a young family to support, said the Magistrate. However, there were hundreds of burglaries each month, and receivers were increasing in number. In the interest of the public and for the protection of society imprisonment was necessary, he said. ASSAULT ON CONSTABLE John Tamaira, aged 22, a workman. was sent to prison for three months when he appeared for sentence on charges of assaulting a police constable and failing to attend periodic detention. He had pleaded guilty. On a charge of behaving in an offensive manner, he was convicted and discharged. Senior Sergeant N. W. Mcßae said earlier that Tamaira had been arrested for urinating in Cathedral Square, and later struck out with his closed fist as he was being put into a cell at the Central Police Station. Tamaira had previous convictions for assaulting police and assault, said the Magistrate. He had received probation, detention centre, imprisonment and periodic detention. “It may be that because of vour disturbed earlj; life you have become disoosed towards this type of behaviour,” said the Magistrate. “Also you have too much of a liking for alcohol.” CAMBRIDGE BURGLARIES On four charges of burglary, Michael Junior Brennan, aged 24, a prison inmate, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. The sentence is to be served concurrently with a term of two years and a half he is serving at present. He pleaded guilty. Sergeant T. Moore, said that at Cambridge about 2 a.m. on March 5. Brennan and an associate entered A.M.P. Insurance, Ltd, through an insecure window. A carton of cigarettes valued at $4.50 was taken and damage of $lO done to the premises. Compensation of $4.50 was sought. The same morning the two entered the premises of Blucks Chemist. Ltd, through an insecure window. Nothing was taken and no damage was done. They then went to the □remises of William Ernest McCracken. a tax consultant, and climbed a drainpipe to get through an insecure window. Cash of $5 was taken and damage of $35 was caused. Compensation of $4O was sought. They then went to the premises of Hautapu Welders, Ltd. and got in by breaking a louvre window. Cash and goods including a calculator, and electric drills, were taken. Damage was also caused to the premises. Compensation of $407.50 was sought. When interviewed in August. Brennan said he wanted to clear the matters up and admitted the offences. The total share of Brennan’s compensation was] $231, said Sergeant Moore. SIX BURGLARIES A youth who pleaded guilty to six charges of burglary ‘was convicted and remanded on bail to October 8. He is to be medically examined for periodic detention. Pau) David Tlkao, aged 17, a council labourer had earlier pleaded guilty and been convicted on two other charges of burglary. He was remanded on these to the same date. Sergeant Prouting said that on September 8 an address in

Heaton Street was entered. Entry was gained through an unlocked rear door. Nothing was taken. On the same day an address in Glandovey Road was entered. Entry was gained by unlocking a door with a key found in the garage. Change amounting to $2) was taken. Later another address in Heaton Street was entered. Entry was gained through an unlocked rear door. Three rings to a total value of $125 were taken Between 9 a.m. and 10.15 a.m. on September 9, an address in Main Road. Sumner, was entered. Entry was gained bv using a key found under a door mat. A stereo and change to a total value of $335 were taken. Later in the day a house in Scarborough Road was entered. Entry was gained by smashing a smail window and reaching through to unlock the door. A cassette player, radio, and razor, worth a total of 5220. were taken. On the same day, a house in Mount Pleasant Road was entered. Entry was gained by removing louvre windows. " The house was searched and five cigars, valued at 50c, were taken. When spoken to the defendant made a full admission of his part in the offences, said Sergeant Prouting. He had said he had been led by his co-oft'enders and that they had disposed of the goods. ESCAPING CHARGE On a charge of escaping from the Rolleston Detention Centre on Septemebr 16, Peter Arthur Bourke, aged 17, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within six months. This means he will serve out his previous sentence of detention centre training. "It was an impulsive act but one thing you have got to remember is that if you commit this type of offence you are opening the door to Borstal,” the Magistrate told Bourke. “And whereas detention centre training involves about two months, Borstal can be between eight months and 10 months.” WOMAN ON PROBATION Mignonne Alleen Young, aged 29, who sold a television set she had hired, was put on probation for 12 months. She had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of theft. She was ordered to pay compensation of $l4O. Sergeant B. A. Saunders said earlier that Young sold the television set for $l4O after advertising it in a newspaper. When interviewed, the defendant said she had sold the set because she had lost her job and needed money. DANGEROUS SPEED A man who drove his car at speeds of up to 90 m.p.h. in am attempt to lose a police car, was I fined $75 and disqualified from I driving for six months on a i charge of driving at a dangerous speed on Riccarton Avenue on! September 24. Peter John Powell, aged 19, a' clerk (Mr A. C. Hughes-Johnson),; pleaded guilty to the charge. ' Seregant Moore said that about 12.25 a.m. the defendant was seen driving more than the speed limit on Riccarton Road. When a police patrol followed him he increased his speed to 60 m.p.h. Powell drove several times around the block with his car skidding from one side of the road to the other, causing several motorists to take “evasive action.” He then travelled at 90 m.p.h. on Riccarton Avenue and finally stopped in Antigua Street. When interviewed he told the police he had got scared and had “tried to get away with it.’” Mr Hughes-Johnson said that the defendant accepted all that the police alleged except the presence of other cars which had to take “evasive action.” Three other persons who had been in the car had said that the first' car they encountered was on Riccarton Avenue near the Hagley Sports Centre. The offence was completely out of character, said counsel. (Before Mr W. F. Brown, S.M.) TOOK BICYCLE On a charge of unlawfully taking a bicycle, Pita Anae, aged 4U, a foundry worker, was convicted and fined $4O and ordered to pay $4O compensation. (S l r D ‘ ?• Fit zBibbon) defended the charge, but the Magistrate said he was left in no doubt at all as to his guilt. I Detective Sergeant M. J Mud ' diman said that on March 131 the complainant, George Baxter; Ritchie, parked his bicvcle out- j side his place of work. Later! that day the defendant was seen! by a witness, William Fraser; Thurlow, riding the bicycle away. In evidence, Seargeant B. N. Thompson said that the defendant had told him when inter, viewed that he had intended to return the bicycle the following morning. (Before Mr N. L. Bradford, S.M.)| ASSAULT Melvin Nepia, aged 37, a work man, was fined $4O on a charge! of assaulting Peter George Hack on May 10. He pleaded guilty. (Before Mr F. G. Paterson, S.M.) I TRAFFIC OFFENCES Wayne Leslie Foster, aged 26. ■ was convicted and sentenced to six months periodic detention I and disqualified from driving for two years when he appeared for: sentence on charges of driving' with an excess blood-alcohol level (300 mg refusing to accompany a traffic officer, failing to keep left and driving without a licence. He had earlier pleaded guilty to all charges. The Magistrate said that the defendant “In that state of intoxication” was an “extreme dan-< ger to the community.”