Lavatory blown up

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33965, 4 October 1975, Page 2

Lavatory blown up

(N.Z Press Association) NELSON, October 3.’ Four youths who took Forest Service explosive were fortunate they had not been killed or severely injured, the Nelson Magistrate’s Court was told today.

Nigel Malcolm Pocock, aged 18, a labourer, pleaded guilty before Mr K. H. J. Headifen, S.M., to charges of wilfully damaging a wooden table, the property of the Forest Service, wilfully damaging a lavatory building at a picnic area on State Highway 6, Whangamoa, the theft of explosives, and breaking and entering Griffin and Sons, Ltd. John Alexander Wilson, aged 20, unemployed, and Barry Alexander Hope, aged 18. a forestry worker, also pleaded guilty to charges of theft, wilfully damaging a lavatory by explosives, and wilfully damaging a wooden table by explosive.

Alan Brydon, aged 17, a workman, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft of the explosives.

They were convicted and remanded on bail to October 15 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant G. T. Mills said an explosives magazine was broken into during the week-end of September 5 to 8, and 36 sticks of gelignite, 68 electric detonators, 60 metres of detonating fuse, and two pairs of crimping pliers were stolen. , Between September 7 and 9 a lavatory in a picnic area at Whangamoa was damaged by explosives. Explosive had been placed just outside the lavatory, which was wrecked by the explosion. A picnic table in a small reserve on the road was also destroyed by explosives.

The four admitted going to the magazine, and stealing the explosives and equipment. They then hid it. A day or so later the four started to return to the hidden explosive, but Brydon left their vehicle before the cache was reached. The other three placed a stick of the gelignite outside the toilet, and lit the fuse. The stick exploded. Further along the road they blew up a picnic table built by the Forest Service. The remainder of the gelignite was stored underwater at Rabbit Island.

When it was found it was in a dangerous state, said Sergeant Mills. None of the young men was experienced in the use of the explosives, ant' they were fortunate they had not been killed or severely injured. Pocock also admitted breaking into Griffins’ factory in Nelson.