Rape, burglary, admitted

Press, 22 August 1979, Page 5

Rape, burglary, admitted

A youth, aged 18, who admitted charges of rape and burglary at Hornby last month, was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence when he appeared before Mr |J. S. Bisphan, S.M., in the I Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Barry John Andrews, unemployed, was originally to (have appeared for the taking |of depositions yesterday, but ’changed his plea to guilty on both charges.

Andrews broke into a Hornby property and raped the 21-year-old occupant at knife-point. Details of the offences, which occurred on or about July 20, were not read in open court. While awaiting sentence at a date to be fixed, Andrews was remanded in custody. RECEIVING CHARGES A drainlayer, aged 47, charged with receiving goods to a total value of almost $5OOO, was remanded without plea to August 28. Martin John Howard is alleged to have received two power-boat drive units, valued at $3OOO, on or about January 10, and of receiving electrical appliances, linen, tools, clothing, kitchenware and other items to a total value of $1879 from Ross Alan Wakefield between June 1 and August 13.

Howard was remanded on bail of $4OOO. ROGUE AND VAGABOND A man found with a dagger strapped to his leg had told the police it was for his own protection, the Magistrate was told. Stewart Malcolm Rolton, aged 26, unemployed, admitted a charge of being a rogue and vagabond found in possession of housebreaking instruments on June 12. He was convicted and remanded on bail of $lOOO to August 28 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant S. D. A. Hooper said at 1 a.m. on June 12 a police patrol had stopped the defendant who was carrying a bag. In the bag was a torch, gloves, spanners, a screw driver, and an unused plastic bag. The defendant was found to have the dagger, which had a 14 cm-long blade, sharpened on both sides, strapped to a leg. He also had a key ring containing seven assorted keys which Rolton told the police he liked collecting, said Sergeant Hooper. DETENTION TRAINING

A youth, who had been earlier convicted on 21 charges of fraud, involving

$lOOO, was sentenced to detention centre training. Darryl Wayne Risdon, aged 17, a labourer, had admitted the offences as well as two breaches of probation. The Magistrate had been told that Risdon had opened a bank account with a $lO deposit and had received a cheque book containing 30 cheques. He had begun using these for the purchase of goods, meat, jewellery, clothing, cash and the hire of a rental vehicle. Compensation of $984 was sought from the defendant, but the Magistrate made no order on this.

WEAPON OFFENCE A man found with a dangerous weapon in his possession had told the police it was for shooting rabbits for his dog. Andrew HugTi Cunningham, aged 30, was convicted of being found in possession of a .22 calibre gas-operated pistol which had been converted to fire .22 calibre live ammunition on August 11. He also admitted and was convicted on one charge of possessing cannabis leaf and another of cultivating cannabis on August 11. Detective Sergeant N. - T. Higgison said as a result of information received police had executed a search war-

rant at the defendant’s address.

In a room they had found eight cannabis plants growing in a specially-con-structed frame and in a lounge was found dried cannabis leaf and cigarettes. Detective Sergeant Higgison said the pistol was loaded with six .22 calibre cartridges at the time. Cunningham had told the police the drugs were for his own use as he was unable to afford them and that the pistol had been converted because it had not been powerful enough to shoot rabbits with. The defendant was convicted on all three charges. He was fined $5O and placed on probation for 12 months.