Men charged with camera, lens theft

Press, 23 February 1980, Page 11

Men charged with camera, lens theft

Two men jointly charged with stealing a camera and lens, valude at $650, were each remanded on bail to March 7 by Mr K. W, Frampton, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Christchurch yesterday. No pleas were entered by Dale Joseph Schwaiger, aged 19. a butcher, and Stephen Stewart, aged 22, a freezing worker.

The alleged offence took place on Thursday. The owner of the property is not known. 12 MONTHS JAIL An unemployed shearer earlier convicted on 14 charges of false pretence and one of theft involving

$2700, was sent to prison for 12 months when he appeared for sentence. Last week Burt William’ Johnston, aged 21. pleaded guilty to the charges by which he had obtained a car, petrol, cash, clothing, shearing gear, a ferry ticket and accommodation.

The Magistrate was told at the time that Johnston had stolen two cheque books and a driver’s licence while working at Tolaga Bay. Using the cheques he had bought a car. had driven from Gisborne to Wellington, and had then toured the South Island.

The Magistrate said the unusual feature of the of-

I fending was that Johnston seemed to be a person who | had assets so that there I should have been no reason for his criminal activities. In early 1979 the defendant had been sent to prison for similar offences and this did not appear to have served as a deterrent. On the false pretence charges Johnston was sentenced to nine months in [prison and on the theft of a car a further three months. Both terms to be .cumulative. On the false pretence charges Johnston was ordered to ■ pay compensation, totalling $658, to the various complainants, and to paj' $1133 to cover the damage done to the stolen car.