Youth on charge of armed robbery

Press, 30 May 1981, Page 4

Youth on charge of armed robbery

A youth who appeared before Judge Bradford in the Children and Young Persons Court yesterday on a charge of robbery while armed with a .303 rifle on Thursday was remanded to June 5.

No .plea was taken to the charge that he robbed Beverley Ann Bell of $BB6. The charge resulted from the armed hold-up of the Cranford Street Post Office about 12.30 p.m. on Thursday. The youth, who is unemployed, was granted bail of $5OO, with a similar surety, with a provision that he reside with a relative in Christchurch during the week’s remand.

Legal aid was granted to the defendant. The duty solicitor (Mr N. Dunlop) said he understood the youth had not worked since arriving in Christchurch soon after Christmas. A surety was sought by the police. The prosecutor (Sergeant C. Cole) said he understood the defendant was not the principal alleged offender. Police were looking for at least one other person. He said $Bl allegedly taken in the robbery had been recovered.

(Before Judge Paterson) PERIODIC DETENTION Six months residential periodic detention was imposed on an unemployed storeman when he appeared for sentence on 23 charges of fraud, false pretence, and theft.

' In addition lan Michael Robinson, aged 18, was put on probation for 18 months, disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for 12 months, and ordered to pay $671 in compensation. Counsel (Mr P. B. McMenamin) submitted that desperation and fear were the motives for his client's offending. He said Robinson decided to get out of Christchurch after being threatened by a person with a knife. , . . Robinson at the time had no funds nor access to any. He had returned to Christchurch to find his flat burnt out and decided to

leave again in case he might be suspected of arson. What was surprising, said Mr McMenamin, was that a person like Robinson was able to pass cheques without greater scrutiny by the recipients. At the earlier hearing, the police prosecutor said the offences were committed after Robinson, and a young associate stole a wallet and cheque, book while staying at a commune near Kaikoura.

Ujsing cheques Tor accommodation, travel, and to obtain cash, the defendant and his associate had travelled to the North Island.

One cheque was used to buy a car .for $7OO. This was later recovered in a damaged condition and cost $3OO to repair. Robinson was caught when attempting to withdraw money ,: from a Wellington bank.