Cheque-writer convicted on fraud charges

Press, 9 October 1979, Page 7

Cheque-writer convicted on fraud charges

A man who pleaded guilty : to eight charges of fraud told the police that he .committed the offences because of his dependence on drugs, said Sergeant M. P. Caldwell in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Gregory Wayne Armishaw, aged 21. unemployed, was convicted by Mr K. W. Frampton. S.M.. and remanded in custody to October 15 for a probation report and sentence. Armishaw admitted the offences. Sergeant M. P. Caldwell said that Armishaw had opened an account with a deposit of $lOO and had been issued with a book containing 30 cheques. The defendant had then in I two days written out cheques with a face value of 15473 to obtain watches, groi ceries and cash from several : firms in Timaru. THREAT CHARGE Brent Arthur McGrath, aged 17, a labourer, was remanded on bail of $lOOO on a charge of threatening to kill and possessing an offensive weapon. McGrath is alleged to have threatened to kill Bernadine Mary Jones and to have had a 25cm sheath knife in his possession on Avonhead Road. The alleged offences took place on October 7. The charges relate to a gate crashing incident at a party at Avonhead. ESCAPER An 18-year-old scrub cutter had told the police that the reason he escaped from the Rolleston detention centre was because of bad health and having been unduly picked on, said Sergeant Caldwell. Steven Jon Evans admitted escaping from the centre on September 28. Sergeant Caldwell said at

8.45 p.m. that day when staff made a check of inmates the defendant was not accounted for and the police were notified. A motorist saw Evans who was arrested about Bkm away walking along the | Main South Road towards ’ Christchurch. He was convicted and re-' manded in custody to October 19 for a probation report, and sentence. BOOKMAKING DENIED A charge of carrying on the business of a book-; maker, having been con-| victed of bookmaking last I October, was denied by a restaurant owner. Anthony Patrick Canovan. aged 39. was remanded on’ bail to December 7 for a ’ defended hearing. The alleged offence oc-i curred on September 28. | FALSE PRETENCE ' A couple who admitted! debts for food and accom-l modation at 18 hotels be-1 tween Auckland and Oam-1 aru, involving worthless | cheques amounting to $1700,1 were both convicted and remanded to October 15 for probation reports and sentence. Graeme Douglas Walker, aged 31. an. artist, was remanded in custody. His companion, Jennifer Anne Johansen, aged 23, was allowed bail of $5OO and ordered to report daily to the police. Both pleaded guilty to 13 joint charges of false pre- i tence. Sergeant Caldwell said the, offences were committed during August and September. In explanation the police I had been told that the i couple had fled Auckland in j fear of their lives after! pressure was put on them to become involved with drugs in that city.