Magistrate’s Court Man stole bikinis from clothes line

Press, 21 December 1976, Page 4

Magistrate’s Court Man stole bikinis from clothes line

The police had not been able to locate the owners of several pieces of women’s underwear and bikinis that were taken from clothes lines in the Qpawa-St Martins area during last year, the Magistrate’s Court was told yesterday.

A 22-year-old man whose name was suppressed, pleaded guity to charges of stealing six bikinis, three women’s swimsuits, three bikini tops, four pairs of women’s panties and a woman’s body shirt, worth a total of $156, during the last year. He was convicted and placed on probation for a year bv Mr N. L Bradford, S.M. Sergeant J. C. Rowe said that the man was interviewed by the police on November 11 in connection with the removal of a number of women's clothes from the drawer of a house in Kowhai Terrace. During the interview the man admitted removing the clothes, as well as taking a nember of bikinis and items of women’s clothing from clothes lines in the OpawaSt Martins area during last summer Not all the owners of these items of clothing had been located. Sergeant Rowe said. “PREFER PRISON” A 19-year-old man escaped from Rolleston Detention Centre on December 6 because he “didn’t like the discipline or the hard work,” the Court heard. Anthony Joseph Johnston

pleaded guilty to a charge of escaping. He was convicted and remanded to Friday for sentence. Sergeant Rowe said that at 10.25 a.m. on December 6, Johnston ran off from a farm at Rolleston where he was in a work party. He -was caught after a short chase. Johnston said that he “didn’t like the discipline end hard work’’ at Rolleston Detention Centre and would prefer to be in prison. SUNNYSIDE ESCAPER 1 A special patient in the custody of Sunnyside Hospital walked out in his nightwear through an unlocked door in the villa and escaped because he didn’t like his medication, the Court was told. David Brian Simmiss pleaded guilty to a charge of escaping from custody. He was convicted and remanded to January 31 for sentence. Sergeant Rowe said that in January, Simmiss was sentenced to imprisonment on charges of burglary, interfering with cars ana escaping. On December 12, he was transferred to Sunnyside for 1 examination as a special patient. At 6.30 p.m. on December 8 he found an unlocked door at the villa at Sunnyside and walked out in his nightwear. He broke into a nearby factory and took a pair of overalls, worth $lB, which he

wore. , , He walked to Fendaiton Road and took a car worth

$2OOO which was unlocked with the keys in the ignition. Summiss drove towards Picton and stopped at Waiau for a sleep. The car bogged down in the mud and, because he was unable to move it, started walking. He was [found on December 9 by the [police near Kaikoura. His explanation for escaping was that he did not like the treatment he was receiving at Sunnyside, Sergeant Rowe said. "REDUCED TO TEARS” A 23-year-old man who said that he was in the regimental police in the army pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour in the car park of Princess Margaret Hospital on Thursday. Mark Anthony Roeiofsma, was convicted and fined $7O on the charge. Sergeant Rowe said that Roeiofsma had pointed a cap pistol out of his car at an old lady, reducing her to tears. Roelofsma’s explanation was that he was “just playing." (Before Mr H. J. Evans, S.M.) RAPE CHARGE The man charged with raping a woman at Dunsandel on December 11 has elected trial by jury. Ned Wanoa, aged 25, a lance corporal at Bumham Military Camp, was remanded in army custody to January 24 for the taking of deposi-

tions. No plea has been entered to the charge of rape.