Youth admits theft of radios, recorders

Press, 11 December 1976, Page 4

Youth admits theft of radios, recorders

A 17-year-old youth and his accomplice, who took radios and cassette players worth $2747 in a week-end burglary, disposed of the goods 24 hours later to a professional receiver, the Magistrate's Court heard yesterday. Neil Grenville Running, a factory worker, pleaded guilty before Mr B. A. Palmer, S.M., to a charge of burgling the premises of Car Radio Specialists, in Walker Street, on October 24. He was convicted and remanded on bail to December 21. Sergeant J. C. Rowe said that the defendant admitted breaking into the firm at 4 a.m. on the Sunday. All the goods were given to a pro-j fessional receiver the nexti day. Several others had been! charged and property worth! $1057 had been recovered. STOLE TAX CHEQUES A woman living in a house divided into three flats had stolen two Inland Revenue Department cheques, worth a total of $530 from the mail boxes of the other two flats, the Court heard. Danielle Matenui Tawaroa, aged 32, a hospital aid, pleaded guilty to two charges of theft of the cheques. She was convicted i and remanded to December 21 for sentence. I Sergeant Rowe said that!

awaroa took the two cheques out of the mail box at an address in Hackthorne ißoad. They belonged to two j persons living in other flats [in the same address. i She paid both cheques iinto her own savings account and spent most of the money. AFTERNOON BREAK-IN An unemployed youth and an associate who “needed money and clothes” broke into a house one afternoon, after checking that no-one was home, and took property worth $550, the Court heard. Dennis Harold Bristowe, aged 19, pleaded guilty to a j charge of breaking and j entering a house in Holly Road. St Albans, on NovemIber 29. He was convicted land remanded in custody to {December 17. Sergeant Rowe said that at 1 p.m. the youths went to the house and, after knocking on the front and back doors to check that no-one was home, they forced a window catch with a 2c piece. They took jewellery, clothing, cameras, and cash. ! Some of this had been Isold by the defendant. Property worth $206 was still missing. Before Mr F. G. Paterson S.M. BORSTAL SENTENCE A 17-year-old youth, who ■had previously admitted 15 ■ charges of burglary, theft, and taking cars, was sentenced to Borstal training yesterday. The youth, John Henry Robinson, also pleaded guilty yesterday to two more charges of burglary, on which he had previously elected trial by jury. Regarding these charges, Sergeant R. H. Prouting said that on November 18 Robin-

son burgled two premises, from which he stole three firearms. The firearm taken from the first house was later sold to a member of the Epitaph Riders for $2O. This was a gas-operated .22 rifle. From the second house he took a .22 rifle and a shot--gun. These were sold, also I for $2O each, to members of the Society Outcasts. Robinson had previously pleaded guilty to six charges of burglary, two of theft, four charges of unlawfully taking cars, and one charge each of resisting arrest, assault, and escaping from custody. The Court had been told that some of the burglaries were committed after Robinson and his companions knocked on doors to see if anyone was home. If someone was there, they used an excuse for their presence; if not, they tried to gain entry. Robinson was arrested on November 26 when a neighbour "spoke up” after seeing something suspicious. He was placed in a patrol car, and while it was stopped at traffic lights he leap out and ran off, pursued by a policeman.The policeman had called to a member of the public, Mr N. Hawke, a photographer from the “Christchurch Star,” to stop the youth. When he tried to do so, Robinson assaulted him. Mr Hawke's camera fell to the ground, and damage of $45 was caused. Counsel for Robinson (Mr R. F. B. Perry) submitted that the sentence should be one which would pay attention to the rehabilitation of the defendant. “A custodial sentence is inevitable,” the Magistrate told Robinson in sentencing him to Borstal training.