Escaper ‘cut through bars’

Press, 16 April 1981, Page 4

Escaper ‘cut through bars’

A Canadian, who admitted escaping from Paparua Prison on Tuesday, did so in order to see his de facto wife and child, said Sergeant G. G. Cleland in the District Court yesterday. Braden Dean Frees, aged 19, .was convicted and remanded in custody to April 28 for a probation report and sentence by Judge Palmer. Sergeant Cleland said Frees and a cell-mate had ; escaped at 4.15 p,m. after ; Frees had hacksawed his : way through the cell bars. The pair had scaled a compound wall and had made off across paddocks. Acting on information received the defendant was later found hiding at an address in Waltham. j Frees, said Sergeant Cleland, was serving a twoyear prison term. > FRAUD CHARGE , * A woman, aged 42, charged with fraudulently obtaining almost $6OOO from the Department of Social Welfare over a five-year period denied the alleged offence; The woman was remanded on bail of $2OOO, together with a surety of the same amount, to June -9 for a defended hearing. She was granted interim suppression of her name. It is alleged that she obtained $5832 by making false

statements about her income. CHARGES DENIED A housewife, aged 43, charged that with intent to injure she assaulted Robert Edward Stoop, was remanded on bail to June 17 for a defended hearing. Maimau Toomalatai who is also charged with causing damage, estimated at $lOO, to Mr Stoop’s van, denied this alleged offence and was remanded to the same date. An order was made that while on bail the defendant (Mr J.. J. Brahdts-Giesen) be psvchiatrically examined. RECEIVING ADMITTED Philip John Knight, aged 18, a labourer, who admitted receiving a motor-cycle, valued at $2BOO, was ' convicted and remanded on bail to April 29 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant Cleland said that on March 19 the complainant had his. motor-cycle converted from his address. at Twizel. While making inquiries into the matter the police found the motor-cycle at Knight's address on April 8. In explanation Knight had told the police that it had been left at his place bj' a friend who was to appear in court on a charge related to the machine, said Sergeant Cleland. TEN CHARGES A clerk facing eight

charges of fraud and two of theft, involving $l7OO, was remanded without, plea to April 22. . ' Wendy Louise Martin, aged 19. who is alleged-to have committed the.offences between January and March, was allowed bail. 20. OFFENCES ; A man who, the Judge said, had a / “distressingly, long history of fraud offend-' ing,” was remanded in custory to April 29 for a probation report and sentence after pleading guilty to’ 20 offences. .. ,

Jonathan William Tate, aged 22, unemployed, admitted two charges of obtaining credit by fraud, one bf theft, and 17 of false pretence. Sergeant G. G. Cleland said the defendant- had obtained petrol and cash from garages at Ashburton, Christchurch and Timaru, and compensation of $2303 was sought. An application for interim suppression of the defendant’s name by counsel (Mr W. Rosenberg) was refused.

ARSON CHARGES Two charges of arson and one of attempted arson laid against a chef were denied. David Lawrence Bradley# aged 24, was remanded in custody to June 19 for a defended hearing. Bradley is charged with starting fires in premises in

Worcester and / Montreal Streets on January 20 and 26, and? with, attempting, to set fire to . another building in Craniner : Square on / January 20?'-' ■ ’ /...../ ' ■To unrelated charges of stealing j a . woman's dress, of/ pants, ’26 pairs df/pahties;.,two brassieres, a blpuse ahd .suitcase; Bradley (Mr G. / Ji. Nation) was remanded: .to June- 23 for a defended hearing. . ' $250 FINE, W 5, A housewife earlier/convicted of receiving a $750 television set was; fined $250

when she appeared for sentence. - -/ : ■ The Court was told.- at the time by the police prosecutor that an undercover policeman had been asked to call at the address of the defendant, Denise Harkess. aged 21, where he had been shown the television set. The constable had offered $l5O for it and this >was accepted. •