Stolen watch lent for defendant’s court appearance

Press, 14 August 1980, Page 7

Stolen watch lent for defendant’s court appearance

A youth was lent a stolen. The watch was discovered

watch by a friend so he! would be in time for a court! appearance, the District Court heard yesterday. Dean William Bouchier, aged 19, a signwriter of no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty to the charge of receiving the watch. The charge was dismissed by Judge Bradford. Bouchier pleaded guilty to two other charges of receiving two saddles, and of (.stealing a car, valued at $6OO. He was remanded in custody 7 until August 20 for a probation officer’s report and sentencing on the three ’ charges. Today he will appear in the Court accused of the theft of another car on May 22. The Court heard that the watch was taken in a house burglary earlier this year. The burglar, who was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, had said in court earlier this week that he lent the watch to the defendant so he could be on time for a court appearance.

by a detective, being worn by Bouchier, when interviewing him on another matter. The defendant gave the detective three accounts of how the watch came to be in his possession, but the Judge dismissed-, the case as it was not proven beyond doubt that Bouchier knew the watch was stolen when he accepted it. The saddle incidents related to the burglary of a shed in Curries Road on May 27. The saddles, valued at $ll6 each, were recovered following an attempt to sell them at a saddle shop. The owner alerted the police. Between May 9-16, a Hillman motor-car was removed (from Waltham Street. It was not in going order, and the defendant vvas alleged to have helped in the towing of the car to a wrecker’s yard, where it was sold for $l5O. The motor, body shell and differential are all that remain. Judge Bradford refused an application for bail by counsel (Mr M. J. Glue).