Go-between seen as ’benefactor’

Press, 18 December 1976, Page 4

Go-between seen as ’benefactor’

• Russell Wilfred Nolan ( could, in one sense, be regarded as a public bene-i factors, because it was! through him that the under-i cover constable known as' Harry Harvey was able to make contact with several 'much more important criminals, Mr Justice Roper said I in the Supreme Court) yesterday. i His Honour made that rei mark when sentencing [Nolan, aged 32, a sickness beneficiary,' to six months periodic detention on two charges of being a party to! the offence of selling can-, nabis by Robert Stanley! Tuck. Nolan was convicted and, discharged on two charges) of aiding in the disposal of! carpenters’ tools valued at; $292, and a colour television' set, valued at $Bl9, the property of Trevor Alan Knight, when he knew that the articles had been stolen and thereby committed the crime of receiving. Mrs J. M. Anderson, for Nolan, said that the offences occurred because at the time Nolan was going to a certain hotel at 9 a.m. every morning, where he mixed with alcoholics. In that way he became the perfect tool [for the undercover constable, [with whom he was friendly [for 18 months. ' Since Nolan was released [from jail 10 years ago, his i offending had been of a rela‘ Itively minor nature and he

.had no previous drug 'offences, Mrs Anderson said. His Honour said that on [the evidence, Nolan had obtained $l3 and an un- ' specified number of flagons of beer supplied by the undercover policeman through the offences. The ju,y had added a rider to its 'verdicts on the two receiving charges, to the effect that Nolan had been purposely and possibly unnecessarily involved in those offences by the undercover; constable. [ The two other charges in[voived aiding in the sale of [cannabis worth about $3O. Nolan made the introduction; [in each case between the [buyer and seller. I “It is very obvious, Nolan,l [ that alcohol is your problem, [ and if it had not been for! that you might well have wondered why it was that the undercover constable, who gave the impression of being connected with criminal activities in a big way, paid you so much attention,” his Honour said. In spite of Nolan’s previous convictions, the probation officer saw some hope for him at this point, with his wife and twins. “Although two of the charges relate to a narcotic, 1 do not see this as a. case for imprisonment, and I propose to give you a chance to make something of yourself,” said his Honour.