MAGISTRATE’S COURT Spate of thefts just after release

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34000, 14 November 1975, Page 16

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Spate of thefts just after release

A former prison inmate who committed a spate of offences soon after his release was gaoled for a further 12 months by Mr B. A. Palmer, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Joseph Lane Ruka, aged 24, unemployed (Mrs D. J. Rotherham), ’ had pleaded guilty to two charges of burglary and three of unlawfully taking cars. At least two of the offences were committed after Ruka had been on a drinking spree with another former prison inmate, the court was told. “I find it disturbing that you have committed these offences so soon after being released from prison,” the Magistrate said. He noted that two of the cars taken had been damaged, and the third had still not been recovered. Property and cash worth $B3l was still outstanding from the two burglaries, the Magistrate said. INDECENT ASSAULT A man who indecently assaulted his 14-year-old stepdaughter several times was sentenced to eight months imprisonment. He had earlier pleaded guilty to four charges of indecent assault, arising from offences committed between January and December last year. The Court heard that the man crept into his stepdaughter’s bedroom and handled her private parts. He had told her that he was "frustrated,” and that his marriage was troubled. Counsel submitted that the defendant had a long history of psychological difficulties. He had known what he was doing was “very wrong,” and had tried to overcome the problem — even talking to his wife about it, counsel said. The Magistrate said that there was nothing in the defendant’s psychological background to suggest that he was a compulsive offender.

The Magistrate added that the man’s name would be suppressed solely for the sake of the complainant and her family. FINED $450 Murray Gladstone Hassell, aged 30, a welder, was convicted and fined $450 and disqualified from driving for 18 months when he appeared for sentence on two charges. He had earlier pleaded guilty to charges of driving with an excessive blood alcohol content (253 mg. on July 10 and driving while under the influence of drink or drugs on October 31. On a charge of refusing a blood specimen, he was convicted and discharged. He had pleaded guilty. The Magistrate said he had seriously considered sending Hassell to prison for a short term. The defendant was the only one who could do anything about his alcohol problem. THEFT OF $6O It was a “mean offence,” the Magistrate told Phillip Vernon Bates, aged 18, who had stolen $6O from a girl’s dresser drawer after having watched her put it there. , ... Bates, unemployed, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of theft, was put on probation for 18 months, ordered to pay compensation of $6O, ordered to do 140 hours of community work, and ordered to work and live where directed. The Magistrate said that it was the defendant’s fifth offence of dishonesty. When he took the money he knew he could not pay it back. FIVE CHARGES Kevin Nohotahowai Jacobs, aged 20. an unemployed welder (Mr F. D. Steedman), was sentenced to seven months periodic detention when he appeared for sentence on four charges. He had earlier pleaded guilty to one charge of burglary, two charges of receiving, and one of being found in an enclosed yard in Hereford Street. On a charge of possessing cannabis. he was convicted and discharged, after pleading guilty. Counsel submitted that Jacobs was impressionable, and had made some silly mistakes. He had been alone in a strange environment and had been in a "sort of vacuum” since the death of his father. He could not find a job. - - . The Magistrate said Jacobs had been out of serious trouble for three years. PERIODIC DETENTION Tonv Rosemore Walker, aged 17, a forklift driver, appeared for sentence on two charges of unlawfully taking a car, and one of burglary. Walker (Mr M. J. Glue), was sentenced to three months periodle detention and put on probation for 12 months. He had pleaded guilty. The Magistrate said he agreed with counsel’s suggestion that Walker had committed the offences to get attention. He had plaved a minor role in all the incidents, and had made a clean breast of the matter to the police. ILLEGAL SALE A youth who bought a motorcycle on time payment and sold it before he had completed all the payments, was sentenced to four months juvenile periodic detention when he appeared for Se Tony Ce Victor Bartlett, aged 17, unemployed, had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of disposing of a motor-cycle without completing a lilre-purchase agreement, on September 17. He was ordered to pay compensation of $355. DOMESTIC ASSAULT Allan Leslie Giles, aged 41, a workman, was convicted on charges of assault and resisting a constable. He had pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting Merline Marion Giles, and of resisting Sergeant John Ell in the execution of his duty. Both charges arose from a domestic dispute on September 24, the Court was told. FORGED ACCOUNT A woman who bought clothes by forging a friend’s signature, was put on probation for one year, ordered to do 30 hours of community work, and ordered

to pay compensation of $23.63. Wendy Alice Green, aged 24 (Mr D. J. R. Holderness.i, had pleaded guilty to a charge of forging a new account with Glassons, Ltd, by signing under the name of M. D. Sheehan. Counsel said that the complainant and defendant had been the best of friends. The complainant had bought goods worth $5O on an account that the defendant had elsewhere, and the defendant took up a longstanding offer to use her friend’s account. When Green forged the signature she had no plan to avoid payment, submitted counsel. SHOPLIFTING Sandra Lee Daley, aged 18, a sickness beneficiary (Mr T. Sissons), was put on probation for one year, order to do 60 hours of community work, and ordered to pay compensation of $16.95, when she appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing a woman’s knitted top from Hilary’s Boutique, Ltd. She had pleaded guilty. (Before Mr N. L. Bradford, S.M.) THEFT OF $2747 A man aged 40 pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing $2747 in cash, the property of New Zealand Farmers Co-operative Association, Ltd. about November 4. No conviction was entered, and the defendant was remanded on bail to November 20 for sentence. Sergeant White said that the money had been recovered. FOUND ON CRANE A man who had to be removed from a crane in Cathedral Square by the police and fire brigade, was discharged without conviction, when he appeared for sentence bn a charge of being found in an enclosed yard on November 6. The man, aged 22. had pleaded guilty to the charge. The Magistrate made a final order for the suppression of the man’s name. Sergeant J. R. Palmer said earlier that the police had found the man sitting on the crane at the C.M.L. building site. He was 80ft above the ground. When he refused to come down, he was handcuffed to the crane, and the fire brigade called to help the police get him down. Sergeant Palmer had said the defendant had a history of mental illness and had undergone psychiatric treatment after suicide attempts. KAIAPOI BURGLARY Two 17-year-old girls who pleaded guilty to a charge of burgling the Grapevine Boutique, Kaiapoi, on the night of October 22, were remanded to November for sentence. Sergeant M. L. White said that clothing valued at $6Bl bad been stolen In the burglary committed by the two defendants and another girl. Only $239 worth had so far being recovered, and compensation was sought. DRUNKENNESS Richard John Hetherington, aged 50, a sickness beneficiary,

was imprisoned for 14 days after pleading guilty to a charge of being found drunk in a public place on November 12. having been convicted for the same offence four times in the last six months. ASSAULT Brent Lawrence Bailey, aged 24, a self-employed painter was convicted and discharged on a charge of assault. He pleaded guilty. Sergeant White said that at 10.15 p.m. on November 6, the defendant had been at home. An argument developed with a woman, and when the complainant tried to intervene, the defendant hit him twice on the face. The cqmplalnant received cuts. Bailey could give no reason for the assault, but was sorry for hitting the complainant. Counsel (Mr . M. Brodie), submitted that the defendant had taken his frustrations out on the complainant. Bailey had spent a week in custody. HIT PARKED CAR A driver who drove off after hitting a parked car, was fined $5O on a charge of failing to stop after an accident, and $25 on a charge of failing to report damage within 48 hours. Sheridan Daryl Blake Watson, aged 23, a driver, pleaded guilty to both charges. His licence was cancelled for three months. Sergeant White said that at 1.30 p.m. on July 24 the defendant was doing a U-turn on Manchester Street when he hit a parked car, causing damage of $lOO. He backed off and drove away. When questioned later, he said that his hand had slipped on the steering wheel. Counsel (Mr A. C. HughesJohnson), said that the offence was quite out of character for the defendant. He was a hard worker. CAR OFFENCE Nui Mana, aged 20, unemployed, was fined $75 after pleading guilty to a charge of attempting unlawfully to take a car valued at $4OO, the property of Stanley Brown, on November 13. NO RIFLE PERMIT. A man who told the police he had borrowed a friend’s rifle to shoot an unwanted dog, was fined $3O on a charge of procuring a rifle without having a permit. Brian Charles Smith, aged 19, pleaded guilty to the charge. ASSAULT Suzanne Dawn Gray, aged 24, was convicted and ordered to appear for sentence within six months if called upon, after pleading guilty to a charge of assaulting Christine Lunn on October 1. Sergeant White said that at 2.30 p.m. the complainant had been walking along Hereford Street. The defendant got out of a parked car, called the complainant a “slut,” and struck her with a closed fist. The complainant received no injuries. Counsel (Mr C. D. Eason), submitted that Gray had overheard a conversation and decided something should be done about

it. She could have taken the assault much further if she had wanted to.

GARAGE THEFT Cash $373 was stolen bv a man while he was employed at a North Island garage on October 1, said Sergeant White. The man, who pleaded guilty to a charge of theft, was remanded to December 15. Sergeant White said that the police located the defendant in a Christchurch hotel on October 16. He admitted taking the money “on the spur of the moment.” STOLE PENSION A 25-year-old man was remanded on bail to November 20 after pleading guilty to a charge of stealing a war pension order, valued at $9B, on or about November 21, 1974, in Dunedin. He will be medically examined during the remand. Sergeant White said that when 1 questioned the defendant admitted the offence. He had taken the order from a boarding house where he, and the complainant, lived. The order was cashed at a local hotel. Compensation of $9B is sought. STOLE CHEQUE Roger John Morgan, aged 19, a truck driver (Mr A. C. HughesJohnson), stole a cheque and used it to open a savings account, the Court heard. Morgan pleaded guilty to a charge of theft and was convicted and or' I ''-ed to pay compensation of $6O. Sergeant Wane said that a cheque for $6O was posted to the complainant in Christchurch, but never reached him. Police inquiries showed that the cheque was used to open a savings account in the complainant’s name. Withdrawals of $25 and $34 had been made. When questioned, the defendant denied any knowledge of the cheque. Counsel said that Morgan’s marriage had broken up about the time of the offence. TOOK BICYCLE Mark William Miller, aged 18, was convicted and fined $7O after pleading guilty to charges of unlawfully taking a bicycle, valued at $4O, and behaving in a disorderly manner in Cathedral Square. Sergeant White said that at 3.15 p.m. on October 10 the defendant climbed over the railing of Christchurch Cathedral and hung from it. He climbed back again when seen by the police. He said he had been drinking. At 8.15 p.m. on November 5, the defendant was seen riding a bicycle which he said he had bought from a friend. Ho then changed his story and said he had taken it from outside a property two weeks earlier. (Before Mr W. F. Brown, S.M.) PROBATION

Terence John Andrews, aged 20 IMr M. J. Glue), was put on 12 months probation on a charge of assaulting Marianne Margaret Mullen on October 19. He had been convicted after a defended hearing.