Woman imprisoned

Press, 18 April 1981, Page 4

Woman imprisoned

A housewife convicted earlier of 10 offences involving the intention of defrauding the Post Office of a total of $13,000 was sent to prison for six weeks when she appeared before Judge Palmer in the District Court.

Rosemarie June Lynn, aged 20, (Mr C. D. Eason) had earlier admitted 10 charges of using documents to obtain a pecuniary advantage.

The offences were committed in September and October, last year. Two offences involved the use of cheques drawn on the Bank of New Zealand branches for sums of $4BOO and $3400. The other eight offences involved the use of Post Office Savings Bank withdrawal slips for sums varying from $2OO to $l2OO. Mr Eason said that the main beneficiaries of his client’s offending had been other people. Of the total sum involved- Lynn only received $BOO.

Although counsel had submitted that' the deferidant had been grossly manipulated by others, the Judge told Lynn that she had herself taken an active part in what had occurred.

The system used to withdraw money had been premeditated, and devious, said the Judge.

The offences were serious and the only course he could take 2in the public interest was a custodial sentence, but the term would be minimal

bearing in mind the defendant’s personal circumstances, the Judge said. DEFERRED A girl, aged 18, earlier convicted on 12 charges of false pretence, involving $1982, was given an 18 months deferred sentence. In addition Debbie Joan Ellis was ordered to pay compensation under the direction of the probation officer.

The Judge said he accepted her counsel's Submission that at the time of the offending Ellis was under the ■; emotional influence of a man who was a drug addict. Counsel (Mr G. E. Langham) said the offences re-. la ted to others for which his : client was currently serving • a period of Borstal training. k Last year Ellis became involved with a man who . was a known drug addict. He , was unemployed and his only source of income was his client’s wages, he said. In October, last year, Ellis was made redundant and then found her unemployment benefit insufficient to support herself and hpr.boy-. habit. ' Mr Langham submitted that Ellis had been “schooled” in the offending by her companion. DEPOSITIONS

An unemployed chef charged with selling cannabis and with supplying the drug was remanded to June

3 for the taking of depositions.

He is Stephen Robert Smith (Mr P. J. Egden), aged 30. who did not plead. Bail was allowed.

CHARGES DENIED

A man facing three charges of receiving property, valued at more than $4OOO, was remanded on bail to June 11 for a defended hearing. It is alleged that Monty Te Moana Horua (Mr K. J. Grave), aged 25, received an electric guitar valued at $B5O, a video cassette recorder valued at $3OOO, and a camera valued at $lB5. Horua admitted a charge of receiving a radio cassette player valued at $125. He was convicted and remanded on bail to-June 11 for a probation report and sentence. ' DEPOSITIONS A man facing three charges of receiving, three charges of. selling cannabis, one of supplying the drug, and one Of burglary was remanded in custody to April 30 for the taking of depositions. ,

Charles Hare Moka (Mr E. Redo), aged 30, unemployed, is alleged to have committed the offences in September and October last vear.

The value of the property allegedly received by the defendant amounted to $4500. The remand in custody is pending an application being made In-.the High Court.