Vicar denies theft of tobacco

Press, 2 May 1981, Page 4

Vicar denies theft of tobacco

‘‘Not guilty,” said the Rev. Robert Arthur Lowe, vicar of St Barnabas's Anglican Church, Fendalton, when he appeared before Judge Fraser in the District Court yesterday on a charge of theft. Canon Lowe (Mr C. B. Atkinson), aged 54. who is charged with stealing a packet of tobacco, valued at $1.83. was remanded at large to May 6 for a defended hearing. The tobacco was the property of the. Ham Supervalue Supermarket. The clergyman, wearing a clerical collar and a dark grey suit, was the first to be called to the dock when court business started at 10 a.m. The alleged offence was said to have taken place on April 14. Counsel (Mr Atkinson), in saying that he would not be seeking interim suppression of his client's name, asked the Court to consider a clipping from this week s copy of the weekly newspaper, "Truth.” . The newspaper had ensured, he said, that details of the case wore widely known in Christchurch before the police had even laid the charge. Mr Atkinson said his client welcomed the opportunity of allowing Canon Lowe's name, to b" published — so lifting susp cion from any other clergyman. THEFT AS SERVANT A postal assistant convicted of stealing money, totalling $690, from his employer, the New Zealand Post Office, was remanded on bail of $lOOO to May 15 for a probation report and sentence. The two offences, one involving $l9O. and the other $5OO, were admitted by Peter Mervyn Flutey, aged 21. Sergeant M. P. Caldwell said that, for four years the defendant had been employed by the Post Office as a postal assistant. Part of his duties involved the collection of coinboxes from public telephone boxes. Flutey had tampered with the locking mechanism in order to get at the coins. On five occasions he had taken the coins to a bank to get them changed into notes. Flutey admitted this activity had gone on for about a year. He did not know why he had stolen the mone.v other than that he became greedy, said Sergeant Caldwell.

Only $l9O had been recovered and compensation of $5OO was sought, he said. RECEIVED PETROL Graham Ray Foster, aged 29, a freezer hand, who admitted receiving 200 litres of petrol, valued at $ll5. was convicted and fined $lOO. Sergeant Caldwell said the defendant had overheard a conversation in a hotel and as a . result had uplifted a drum of petrol from an address at Templeton. He had paid $5O for the petrol. In explanation to the police Foster (Mr G. N. Langham) said that at that price the opportunity was too good to be true. Mr Langham said his client had become involved innocently. DEPOSITIONS A youth, aged 17, charged with indecently assaulting a woman, aged 23, elected trial by jury. Raymond Glen Barbet, an apprentice shoemaker, is alleged to have committed the offence on April 23. An application for interim suppression was refused.

Barbet was remanded on bail to June 9 for the taking of depositions. ROBBERY CLAIM Raewyn Kotara. aged 38. charged with robbing a man of clothing, valued at $6O. was remanded on bail to July 1 for the taking of depositions. Kotara (Mr E. Bedo) is alleged to have committed the offence on April 28. ESCAPING CHARGE Gerard Tipene. aged 19. who is charged with escaping from Paparua Prison on April 14, was, remanded in custodv without plea to May 8. THEFT ALLEGED A storeman charged with stealing 22 corrugated iron sheets. 22 sheets of asbestos, ridging, barge rolls, and a roll of wire netting, to a total value of $509. was remanded on bail to May 8. Brian Gordon Meaclem. aged 32. is alleged to have committed the offence or April 22. The property belonged tc his emplovcr, Ashby Bergh Ltd.