Prison for fraud

Press, 30 April 1981, Page 10

Prison for fraud

Twelve months imprisonment was imposed on a man who appeared for sentence before Judge Fraser in the District Court yesterday for 20 offences of fraud involving $2303. Jonathan William Tate, aged 22, unemploj’ed, had admitted two charges of obtaining credit by fraud, one of theft, and 17 of false pretence. Through his offending Tate had obtained petrol and cash from garages at Ashburton, Christchurch and Timaru during March and April. Counsel (Mr W. Rosenberg) said his client had committed the offences to obtain money because he had a severe alcohol problem. r

COMMUNITY SERVICE

A girl, aged 17, earlier convicted of stealing sums of money, totalling $569, from nine pensioners, was ordered to carry out 100 hours of community service. In addition Carol Elaine Goodman, a kitchen hand (Mr N. J. Dunlop) was put on probation for 12 months. She had earlier admitted the nine charges of theft. Goodman, said the police prosecutor at the earlier hearing, had, with a cooffender, gained entry to the pensioners’ properties by saying she had come to talk to elderly people as a school project. Money stolen had been divided by the two girls. Mr Dunlop said that Goodman had no idea of the total amount stolen and had only gained $2O from the offending. She was unable to pay compensation.

RECEIVING Philip John Knight, aged 18, a labourer, convicted of receiving a motor-cycle, valued at $2BOO. was fined $l5O and put on probation for 12 months. Counsel (Mr C. D. Eason) said his client, who admitted the offence, had been left with the motor-cycle by a friend with the advice that he could use it. STOLE TYRES : .sfcAn unemployed man who stole 24 tyres, valued at $2079, told the police that he did so because he needed money to repay a gambling . debt, said Sergeant W. J. McCormick.

Michael Gerard Kevin; Murphy admitted breaking' into the Main South Road premises of Tyres Sales and Ser vices,. Ltd. on April 19. He was convicted and re-., manded on bail to May 13 for a probation report and sentence.

Sergeant McCormick said the defendant had entered the premises through the roof.

He had taken the 24 tyres and had packed them into his van. He was caught as he was leaving. Compensation of $lOO was sought from Murphy in respect of damage done to the* premises, said Sergeant McCormick.