Founder member admits theft from food co-op.

Press, 4 December 1979, Page 7

Founder member admits theft from food co-op.

A founder member of a women's food co-operative , in Waltham, who admitted stealing $391 from it. was convicted and remanded to December 10 for a probation report and sentence when she appeared before Mr K. W Frampton. S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Shirley’ Ann Hobden. aged 30. a masseuse, admitted stealing various sums of money totalling $391, the property of the Women’s, Self Centre Food Co-op. between February’ 15 and August 1. Sergeant R. H. Prouting said the non-profit making co-operative was formed in 1977 with the defendant as a’ founder member. In February she took on the job of the co-op’s treasurer. which had lasted until August when Hobden left for a three-week holiday in; Fiji. Discrepancies in the; accounts of up to $391 were! discovered by the incoming treasurer. On her return from Fiji the defendant was approached by the co-op’s: president, said Sergeant’ Prouting. Hobden had admitted tak-! Ing the money and offered to repay the amount, but to; date only ssb had been received leaving a balance of 5341 for which compensation! was sought. The defendant was J allowed bail of $3OO. The Magistrate declined an application seeking inter-’ im suppression of her name. OFFENSIVE WEAPONS 1 As a result of items such i as a jemmy . bar, a tomahawk, a hammer, a screwdriver, two metal bars, a rubber hose, and a wooden bar being found under seats in a vehicle stopped by police in Tuam Street, four gang members appeared charged with possession of offensive weapons. Martin Trevor Hue, aged 33. Ronald Rongo. aged 23. both unemployed, Christopher Wayne Heke, and Hank Hendrix Wiparata, aged 18. labourer, each pleaded guilty to the offence which occurred on Saturday. Sergeant Prouting said on three occasions on Saturday the police had to be called in to defuse a gang confrontation in Stanmore Road. At 9.45 p.m.. a vehicle, containing the four defendants. was stopped in Tuam Street by a police patrol. The driver Wiparata, told the police thev were patrolling the area because of the

gang confrontation, said Sergeant Prouting. .Although they denied having weapons, a number of items were found under the front and rear seats during a search by the patrol. Wiparata then admitted that the items were for their own protection. The Magistrate was told by the duty solicitor that apart from the tomahawk, which did not belong to any of the four defendants, the rest were tools used for the maintenance of the vehicle. Each of the four was convicted and fined $75, and the Magistrate ordered the forfeiture of the items to the Crown. THREAT ALLEGED Evert Cleman Mom, aged 24. a painter-decorator, was remanded to December 11 on a charge of threatening to kill. It is alleged that Mom sent a letter to his wife which contained a threat to kiil her. The offence is alleged to have taken place on November 30. Mom did not plead. He was allowed bail of $BOO. ASSAULT CHARGE An unemployed woman, who was charged with assaulting Karina Maree Huria with intent to injure her, was remanded in custody to December 10. Fiona Mary Ernslie, aged 19. is alleged to have committed the offence on Sunday. No plea was entered. Bail was opposed by the police. The charge relates to an incident at a house in Holland Street in which a 16I year-old girl is said to have been struck on the heat (with a hammer. DEPOSITIONS A man facing three charges involving theft, buriglary, and cultivating cannabis, was remanded tc January’ 29 for the taking ol depositions. David Ford Gay, aged 24 a labourer, is alleged t< have stolen a $2700 car, thf 'property of Christopher Ea imonn White, and to haw j broken into the Ensors Roa< 'premises of Cornerway Cars Ltd. These alleged offence; were said to have occurrec on November 20. Gay is further charget with’cultivating cannabis or November 23. Bail of $2250 was renewec as was daily reporting t< the police. RAPE CHARGE s A labourer, aged 19, wa

remanded on bail to February 5 for the taking of depositions on a charge of attempted rape. The defendant, who was granted interim suppression of his name, is alleged to have attempted to rape a girl, aged 12. on November 1. On a further charge of driving while disqualified he ’was remanded without plea (to December 10.

' BROTHEL CHARGE A manageress, aged 39, .[was further remanded with- . out plea to December 17 on a charge of keeping a brothcel in Christchurch between ■ October 30 and November 8. | The woman, who was . granted interim suppression ’of her name, was also Ji charged yesterday with /allowing her place of business to be without effective J supervision according to the . provisions of the Massage , Parlours Act between October 30 and November 8. , Pleas were not entered to .'either charge. INJURY CHARGES i Two brothers, charged that with reckless disregard for the safety of others they injured Rodger Errol Parker, were each remanded without plea to the Magistrate’s Court, Rangiora on Decern.iber 12. ■j They are Jonathon Tejna i Craig Reuben, a labourer, J aged 17, and Michael Stuart I Reuben, aged 18, also a ilabourer, who are alleged to [ihave committed the offence ■on November 25. i Each was allowed bail of ■ $BOO. PROBATION J' A logging contractor, aged j!l9, who was last week con■victed on 15 charges of false I pretence, involving more J than $lOOO, was released on 5 j probation for 12 months and ■(ordered to make com"(pensation in full. 3 1 The Magistrate told Pete; f I Gerard Sugrue that he (accepted that his conducl ■’had been more foolish that 3 i criminal and that as a 198 (year-old his business ex'iperience had been limited. Earlier Sugrue had plead--3 led guilty to the offence; ’’(which occurred during June ? and July. 3 ! Counsel (Mr E. Bedo) saic (the offences had arisen be31cause of the defendant’s in 3 ’experience and his desire tc I keep his 12-month-old busi“lness afloat. 3 1 All the cheques issued hac ■been under Sugrue’s owt ’name and during a two-wee) s(period, he said.