Youth caught after shoplifting ‘spree’

Press, 9 May 1979, Page 4

Youth caught after shoplifting ‘spree’

A gas-bottle filler stole 12 items from seven different shops before his two-hour I shoplifting binge came to an abrupt end, the Magistrate’s I Court heard yesterday. Justin Lloyd Taua, gaed 18, admitted’ seven charges | of theft which alleged that he stole records and other property worth almost $7O on March 30. The defendant was apprehended after he left a Woolworths store with a toffee bar and two pairs of socks he had just acquired, said Sergeant A. M. Andrews. Taua had allegedly been talking with friends about stealing and had wanted to show them how easy it was. to steal. Mr F. G. Paterson, S.M.. convicted and remanded him on bail to May 15 for a probation officer’s report and! sentence. DAMAGED SHOP A youth was too drunk for a breath test to be carried out when he was taken to the police station after an accident, said SerIgeant Andrews. ; John Alan Arbuckle, aged ; 17. an apprentice mechanic, had earlier been the driver of a vehicle which had gone out of control and had “destroyed” a shop front at the i corner of Hoon Hay and [ I Lincoln Roads. ! The defendant admitted) j driving a motor vehicle in | Hoon Hay Road while under I the influence of drink to the extent that he was incapable of controlling the vehicle, on April 29. i When approached after 'the accident, Arbuckle allegedly told a traffic officer Ithat he knew he was drunk. ( He later lost consciousness I at the police station. I Counsel (Mr R. J. Murfitt)

told the Court that th defendant was unfit to be ii public, let alone drive a car However, the youth, whi came from a good home, hat not been bailed on the nigh of the offence, and had bee: ( left to “stew in his owi juice.” he added. Arbuckle had since visitei the owner of the shop to sei about paying for the cost o the damage. The Magistrate corivictet and sentenced him to resi dential periodic detention fo four months and dlsqualifiec him from driving for II months. The defendant ha< placed members of the com rounity in extreme dange: ! and it was just as well no one had been killed, he said. FRAUD CHARGES A promotions represents tive, who is charged witl fraud, was again grantee suppression of his name when he appeared yesterday. The man, aged 38, face: three charges of receiving moneys of which hi fraudulently used $2700. Or three further charges he is accused of obtaining $450 by falsely representing that cheques were valid, with intent to defraud. The offences were alleg edly committed between De cember 3, 1978 and February 15, 1979. Counsel (Mr K. N. Hampton) entered a plea of not guilty to all charges, which were adjourned to July 3 foi a fixture. The charges hac previously been set down for the taking of depositions yesterday. CHEQUE CHARGES A farmhand, accused oi breaking into the Garlands Road factory of Noel William Unwin on or about New Year's Day. faces fout charges relating to the use

e of cheques in the name o n “N. W. Unwin” five day: •. later. a T is alleged that Trevot J Edward Gifford, aged 29 t used four cheques to obtain n goods or money worth a! $2184. He is also accused ol (stealing a colour television i set, which had $505 still elowing on it under a hire ('purchase agreement. I Gifford was remanded on i the six charges, withou - plea, to May 15. He wa: r allowed bail. ’ OVERSTAYER CHARGE - Lolesio Mealamu Or ’Muamua, who is accused of overstaying his permit and I assaulting a taxi driver, was ‘ remanded on bail to June 26 for a defended hearing. Mealamu, aged 23, e •i labourer, denied assaultrnj i Kenneth David Vincent on II April 30, and remaining in :lNew Zealand after his permit expired on June 30, s 1977. ;l REMAND ?! A youth pleaded not i guilty to charges of threat- : I ening to kill and possessing '(offensive weapons. Richard John Murdoch, ■aged 17, a coach builder. Was remanded on bail of -($1500 to June 22 for a ■ defended hearing. /( He is alleged to have (threatened to kill Robert (George Bunt and to have t| possessed two kitchen i ( knives with apparent intent ■lto cause grievous bodily [.harm on April 27. i| SENTENCED ■ On a charge of stealing a (motor-cycle worth $lOB5 (from near the Arts Centre lion March 13. Gavin James :I Thomas, aged 23, unetn- ■ I ployed, Was sentenced fo (five months . periodic deten•ition and 17 months probaItion.