‘Ridicule’ drove man to offend

Press, 1 May 1981, Page 5

‘Ridicule’ drove man to offend

A man who set fire to a caravan, the property of the Christchurch Drainage Board, had done so because he had been ridiculed by his workmates, said Sergeant M. P. Caldwell in the District Court yesterday. David Ernest Fell, aged 28, admitted setting fire to the caravan which was located at the Casebrook Intermediate School on April 21. He was convicted by Judge Fraser and remanded on bail to May 14 for a probation report and sentence.

An order was made that a psychiatric report be obtained on the defendant. Sergeant Caldwell said when units from the fire service arrived at 11.28 p.m., they found the caravan ablaze.

After extinguishing the fire, a strong smell of kerosene was noticed and the C. 1.8. was notified. The caravan had been written off and compensation of $lB4O was sought. On April 22 the defendant admitted the offence and said it was because of being ridiculed by his workmates. INDECENT ASSAULT An unemployed milkman convicted of indecently assaulting two female joggers, one aged 15 and the other aged 23, was remanded in custody to May 4 for a

probation report and sentence.

Donald Edward Pearcey, aged 26, admitted the indecency charges and also two charges of assaulting the joggers. Sergeant Caldwell said that in both cases the joggers were grabbed between their legs.

The offence on the 15 year old occurred on March 26 and that on the woman, aged 23, on or about March 1.

Pearcey (Mr K. N. Hampton) told the police he did not know why he committed the offences but said he needed help to prevent him from doing the same type of thing again. ASSAULT CHARGE

A salesman, aged 34. charged with assaulting a boy, aged 11, and with wilfully obstructing a policeman in the execution of his duty was further remanded to May 7.

No pleas were entered by the defendant who is alleged to have committed the offences on April 26. Bail and interim suppression of the defendant's name were continued. PERIODIC DETENTION A wine waiter, convicted of receiving a colour television set and a stereo unit, to a total value of $1350, was sentenced to six months periodic detention.

Douglas Bruce Carson, aged 31, had admitted the offence.

The stereo unit was found at his address when visited by the police. He said he had paid $2OO for both items. CAUSED DEATH A man convicted of causing the death of Cherie Nadine O'Brien by carelessly using a car. was sentenced to periodic detention for six months.

Roger Lewis Manson, aged 34, a storeman, also admitted and was convicted of driving while not the holder of a driver's licence, and of driving with an excess bloodalcohol level.

The offences took place on December 20 last year.

As a result of a collision with a motor-cyclist near Templeton, the front seat passenger in Manson's car was killed, the motor-cyclist received serious head injuries, and the other two passengers suffered minor injuries.

The defendant (Mr D. H. Hicks) had said he had not seen the motor-cyclist coming round the corner at the time.

In addition to periodic detention, Manson w’as disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for two years.