Driver ‘hit by spanner’

Press, 11 July 1980, Page 5

Driver ‘hit by spanner’

Annoyed that a driver had' taken his vehicle registration number after a minor collision outside a hamburger bar, a man had first struck the roof of the driver’s car with a spanner and had then reached through the window and assaulted the driver ■with the spanner. I This was stated by Sergeant M. P. Caldwell in the (District Court yesterday when Keavan Wayne Barker, jaged 27, a painter, appeared (on charges of assault and i wilful damage. Barker pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Andrew James Watson and with wilfully damaging Mr Watson’s ; property to the value of $4O. The offences took place on April 12. Judge Bisphan convicted Barker on both charges. On the charge of assault he was fined $3OO, and on the wilful damage charge a fine of $5O was imposed. The defendant was ordered to pay compensation of $4O. He was also disqualified from holding a driver’s licence for six months. Sergeant Caldwell said the incident occurred when the defendant was involved in a minor collision with the complainant’s vehicle as he was attempting to pull out and drive away from a hamburger bar. Barker had become annoyed and had banged on the roof of Mr Watson’s car iwith a crescent spanner. When Mr Watson took the I (number of Barker’s car.i

'Barker had reached through I the car window and had hit the complainant causing a cut on the bridge of his nose, said Sergeant Caldwell. Counsel (Mr M. Withers) said that prior to the incident Barker had drunk two rums at a rugby league social. CHARGES DENIED A company director facing charges of driving under the influence of drink or drug, and of causing bodily injury, denied the alleged offences. Oscar Stone, aged 57, was remanded to August 19 for a defended hearing. It is alleged that Stone caused bodily injury to Toni Claire Rodgers by carelesslyusing a car in Park Terrace. He ■ is also charged that while under the influence of drink or drug he caused bodily injury, to Toni Rodgers by an act or ommission. ‘ The alleged offence was said to have occurred on April 21. An application of interim supression of the defendant’s name was declined by the Judge. RECEIVING OFFENCE Danny Andre Ambrose Winter, aged 27, convicted on a charge of receiving a leather jacket, valued at $254. was remanded to July 24 for a probation report and sentence. Winter had pleaded guilty to receiving the jacket and also a pendant, valued at $3B, on or about June 6. I Sergeant Caldwell said i that on June 3 a burglary

was committed on a house in Elizabeth Street, and among the items stolen was a leather jacket and a pend-: ant. On two occasions soon! afterwards the defendant was seen by’ the owner! wearing the jacket and the! pendant. . > In explanation to the police Winter said he had; paid $6O for the jacket to a person in a hoteLWinter had said that he knew the jacket was stolen but it looked a good purchase and he had bought it on the spur of the moment. RECEIVING ALLEGED A man charged with receiving a stereo unit, valued at $2OOO, was remanded without plea to July 17. Bruce David Cordy, aged 19, unemployed, is charged with' receiving the unit, the property of a person or persons unknown, on July 8. He was granted bail of $1250. 1336 SEEDS Grant Alfred Harris, aged 21, unemployed, was convicted and fined $l5O on charges of possessing cannabis seeds and cannabis plant. Harris admitted the offences which were committed on Wednesday. He declined legal representation.

Sergeant Caldwell said a total of 1336 cannabis seeds were found by the police in containers in the defendant’s bedroom, Harris said a friend had

given him the cannabis leaf which he intended to smoke before going to the cinema. He claimed the seeds did not belong to him but presumably had been left at the address by' someone else. RECEIVED WATCHES A youth, who admitted receiving nine assorted men’s wristlet watches, to a total value of $7OO, told the police he had sold eight of them to workmates for $2O to $6O each. Peter Charles Clarke, a shop plasterer, aged 19, who; committed the offence at Twizel on or about April 14, was convicted and remanded to July 24 for a probation report and sentence. He was allowed bail of $5OO. Sergeant Caldwell said the watches were the property of a Timaru jeweller. As a result of burglary’ on April 9, 19 watches, valued at $lBB9, had been stolen. On or about April 14 Clarke had been given the nine watches by a workmate. He knew they must have been stolen, said Sergeant Caldwell, because they still had the price tags on them and the defendant was aware of the burglary. Clarke had kept one of the watches and had sold the eight to workmates on a commission basis for the man who had given them to him.

Compensation of $205 was (sought, said Sergeant Caldi well.