Policeman’s cheque found

Press, 14 June 1978, Page 4

Policeman’s cheque found

An unemployed man was caught red-handed when he tried to cash a valueless cheque for $4O made out on a form belonging to a con-; stable attached to the C. 1.8., ' Mr Justice Roper and a jury were told in the Supreme Court yesterday. It took a jury an hour and 45 minutes to find Albert Barry Waterman, aged 32, unemployed, guilty of false pretence. He was remanded in custody to June 21 for sentence. After the jury returned its verdict, his Honour told it that Waterman was on probation on six charges of false pretence and that during his criminal • career, which began in 1962, • he had committed nearly j every possible offence involving dishonesty. This was the second trial for Waterman on the charge J of false pretence; the first jury was unable to reach a * verdict. ? Mr D. J. L. Saunders ap- ! peared for the Crown and , Mr D. Caygill for Waterman, ‘ who pleaded not guilty. Evidence was given that Waterman was apprehended ‘ when he tried to cash a ! valueless cheque for $4O at * the Riccarton branch of the ' Bank of New Zealand on February 20. The cheque had j been taken from a book be- > longing to Constable Bren- < dan John Spratt. At the bank £ with Waterman was Doreen ' Myrtle Fraser.

On February 7 Constable Spratt had been a member of a police party which had executed a search warrant on Fraser’s home in Mathesons Road. That was the last time he remembered having his cheque book, he said.