Man jailed after theft, car damage

Press, 28 August 1979, Page 4

Man jailed after theft, car damage

A showman's assistant, who admitted converting a $5OOO sports car and who had jumped out of it leaving it to run up on a footpath .causing $6lO worth of dam- ; age to it, was sent to prison for 18 months by Mr N. L. Bradford, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Raymond John Pearce, aged 27, whom the Magistrate described as “an incorrigible rogue,” was also disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for three years. To ail those who unlawifully took other people’s vehicles which, the Magistrate said, was now a multimillion dollar industry in New Zealand, there was only one appropriate sentence in his opinion, and that was imprisonment. Last week Pearce admitted and was convicted of converting the car, driving it while not holding a driver’s licence, dangerous driving, wilfully damaging the vehicle, and possessing at night instruments capable of being used to take a car — a key and a screwdriver. The offences occurred on August 14. Counsel (Mr P. H. B. Hall) said the offending was born out of a drinking episode by his client. NINE MONTHS JAIL A beneficiary, aged 21, con. victed last week on a charge of stealing a $5OOO car, was imprisoned for nine months when he appeared for «entence. Christopher Graeme Falla admitted stealing the vehicle, the property of Blackwell Motors, Ltd, on August 12. The Magistrate was told last week that the car had been started with a key obtained by Falla the week before and that it had been taken to a garage where the next day its engine and gearbox had been removed. With the aid of a friend the car was then towed away and abandoned.

Linda Margaret Falla, aged 19, a housewife, who had pleaded guilty to the same offence, was convicted and given a 12-months deferred sentence.

Counsel (Mr L. C. Dann) said the reason for Falla’s offending had been his financial worries. He had formu j lated a plan which was clearly doomed to failure by the amateurish manner of its execution. The involvement of Mrs Falla, said Mr Dann, had been out of loyalty to her husband. She had gained nothing from her assistance. DEPOSITIONS Two’ men charged with robbing a man of property worth $619 at Ashburton on August 16 elected trial by jury. Russell Douglas White, aged 20, unemployed, and Maurice Alan Joseph Pahl,

aged 27, a labourer, were pach remanded in custody to 'October 8 for the taking of depositions. Bail was opposed by Sergeant W. J. McCormick. They were jointly charged I with robbing Thomas Colin I Jensen of a radio cassette > player, valued at $269. and a ■ wrist watch valued at $350, to a total value of $619. CHARGES DENIED Four youths allegedly involved in a confrontation with Ministry of Transport officers and police in Lincoln Road on August 8, have each denied the charges laid against them. One of the four, Neil Bruce Beyers, aged 22, a labourer, was remanded to .September 7 for a defended hearing. The others, John .William Warwood, aged 24, a panel I beater, Kevin Darryl Smith, I aged 20, a bushman, and [Kerry Alfred Sampson, aged 22, a cornice maker, were all remanded to October 29 for defended hearings. When they previously appeared in Court all but Warwood were granted bail. Yesterday Warwood was granted bail of $3OOO. Warwood faced charges of possessing an offensive weapon, using threatening behaviour, assault, wilfully damaging a Ministry of Transport patrol car and assaulting a traffic officer in the (execution of his duty. All alleged offences were said to have occurred on August 8. Warwood faced a further charge of dangerous driving on Norwich Quay, using threatening words, and wilfully damaging a police car to the value of $lOO. These alleged offences were said to have occurred on August 10, Smith is charged with will fully causing damage worth $45 to a patrol car, and driving while disqualified. Sampson faces a charge of unlawftilly possessing an offensive weapon — a chain. Beyers ia charged with assaulting a constable in the execution of his duty. $9OO IN FINES 1 Three men who broke inte the clubrooms of the New Brighton Kangas Auetmlian Rules Football Club looking for liquor were eaeh fined $3OO. Gary Leslie Waites, aged 26, Nicholas John Dunn, aged 21, and Philip John Brooks, aged 22, all carpenters last week admitted and were convicted of the offences which took place on August 19. In addition to the fines each defendant was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months.

Last week the Magistrate was told that the three men had gone to the clubrooms where liquor worth about $64 had been taken. It had been intended to take the stolen liquor to a party.