Absconder slashed officer

Press, 27 August 1977, Page 4

Absconder slashed officer

A boy who slashed a Social Welfare Department officer about the forearms, [and with the help of another (absconder seized the minibus returning them to the Stanjmore Road Boys’ Home, ap- [ peared in the Children and [Young Persons Court yesterIday.

The boy, aged 15, admitted charges that with another boy he unlawfully took a van on August 4 and that he assaulted a Social Welfare Department officer to facilitate the offence. Ha also admitted taking part in a string of burglaries at a Waltham Road dairy, [the Waltham Primary School, the Opawa Primary School, a printing firm, and an electrical company between July 31 and August 2. The Magistrate, Mr K. W. Frampton, S.M., convicted the boy on all charges and remanded him in custody for sentence on September 2. A probation officer’s report was called for. Counsel (Mr L. M. O’Reilly) said that he was unhappy that a boy aged 15 should have to go to Addington Prison. "It illus-

trates the lack of facilities facing the court' for remand places for young children,” he said. “It seems wrong that there is no other alternative.” Sergeainr M. P. Caldwell said that the defendant, who had escaped from the boys’ [home, was being returned to Christchurch from Blenheim when two of the offences took place. He and three others had been transferred to a miniixus at Conway Bridge under the supervision of a Social Welfare Department officer. After learning that they would reach Christchurch in an hour’s time, the defendant had pulled a knife from his sock and struck the officer, who later required nine stitches, said Sergeant Caldwell. When the van

s i stopped, the driver and d | officer were foraed out on to ’’ the road and the defendant I drove off at high speed. e [ The two men called for help at a nearby service stall I tion and the boys were seen olby a police patrol driving "(towards Christchurch. After; o a high-speed chase, the van nJ struck a power pole and the s ( boys were apprehended. e) When asked about thie es-j d capade, the defendant had y said that he and the other n boys had planned the night - before to take the van, and [had concealed knives, bey cause they were determined n not to return to the boys’ .- home, said Sergeant Caldn well. e The defendant had broken d | into Patel’s Dairy and had t) stolen cigarettes and $2OO nleash on the night of AugustU

30, said Sergeant Caldwell. The next night the boy, accompanied by others, broke into a classroom at the Waltham school, stole office equipment and caused considerable damage there, he said. They also ransacked the Opawa School. On the night of August 3, the defendant entered the [premises of Morrison Printling Ink and Machinery, Ltd, where $2OO worth of damage was caused. He and his companions then went to premises in Brougham Street and caused “thousands of dollars” worth of damage. When questioned about the burglaries, the defendant had admitted taking part in these with three others, said Sergeant Caidwell. He had told the police he needed (money and food.