Man robbed in public toilet

Press, 21 October 1980, Page 5

Man robbed in public toilet

Two men who punched and robbed an elderly man of $45 in the public toilet in Cathedral Sguare were convicted by Judge Fraser in the District Court yesterday. Murray Alexander Stephen Paterson, aged 23, a factory hand, and Prince Alistair Walker, aged 19, both admitted robbing Noel Sheridan Mclntosh of $45 cash, and a wallet, valued at $lO, on July 27. Walker (Mr S. G. Barker) was sentenced to Borstal training and Paterson (Mr M. J. Glue) was remanded on bail of $l6OO to' November 3 for a probation report and sentence.

Sergeant M. P. Caldwell said the complainant, a man. aged 60, had been attacked by the two defendants who had taken his wallet.

Paterson had grabbed the complainant from behind while Walker punched him in the face and body.

After Walker had removed the complainant’s wallet Paterson had pushed the old man into a cubicle where he was told to remain for 10 minutes, said Sergeant Caldwell. . The two defendants left the area in a car and after removing the cash threw- the wallet away. Sergeant Caldwell said Walker had bought three dozen bottles of beer, which the two men had then con-

sumed over the next two days. , On August 1 when detectives spoke to Paterson he had expressed shame at what he had done. Mr Glue said his client had played a minor role in the robbery.

Walker had gone to the police and admitted his part in the offence after talking to his probation officer.

He also said he was now sorry for what he had done to the complainant, said Sergeant Caldwell. Compensation of $27.50 was sought from each defendant.

Sergeant Caldwell said the complainant received facial injuries. He was treated at hospital and discharged. $6OO FINE

Jack Finiki, aged 51, a packer, was convicted and fined $6OO after pleading guilty to a charge of driving with an. excess blood-alcohol level.

Sergeant Caldwell said Finiki had driven home from a hotel on August 30 when he had hit a parked car in Greendale Avenue. No-one was injured.

At the time Finki had a blood-alcohol level of 329 milligrams of alcohol to 100 millilitres of blood, he said.

In addition to the fine, the defendant, a first offender, was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for 18 months.