Detention term

Press, 28 October 1977, Page 4

Detention term

] A youth who took part in a gang assault on three other youths in a Nev/ Brighton car-park on October 16 has been sentenced to eight months periodic detention and put on probation for 18 months.

He appeared yesterday before Mr F. G. Paterson, S.M. in the Magistrate’s Court in Christchurch. Bruce Robert Flower had admitted charges of assaulting Terry James Ellis with intent to injure and being a member of an unlawful assembly.

Counsel (Mr D. H. P. Dawson) said the defendant had played only a minor part in the assault as he had struck the complainant once with a pick handle. He said that the defendant’s group had been abused by the complainant’s group before the assault took place. The Magistrate said that defendant had “wielded an implement and inflicted a substantial injury that could have been fatal.”

He disqualified Flower from driving for eight months. SIX CHARGES

A youth who had admitted six charges, including one of breaking and entering his uncle’s workshop premises, was sentenced to six months periodic detention and put on probation for 12 months. James Joseph Grieve, aged!

18, had pleaded guilty to three charges of stealing cars, two charges of stealing cassette equipment, and a charge of breaking and entering.

Counsel (Mr N. R. W. j Davidson) said the defendant] had excellent work potential | and was doing an appren-1 ticeship before he committed i the offences. Most of the defendant’s offences were committed at the instigation 6' co-of'enders, he said. The Magistrate ordered Grieve to pay $l5O restitution. and disqualified him from driving for 12 months. RESTITUTION Noel Herbert Rogerson, aged 34, who continued to obtain an unemployment benefit from the Department of Social Welfare after he had resumed employment was released on probation for 12 months and ordered to pay $373 restitution.

Rogerson had earlier admitted committing the breach of the Social Security Act betweeen December 12, 1976, and January 16 this year.

Counsel (Mr T. M. Abbot) said that defendant had suffered personal and financial difficulties at the time of the offences. He had had to give up his job that he had held since 1958 because his wife was suffering a period of deep depression.