Newspaper theft charges

Press, 2 September 1981, Page 4

Newspaper theft charges

Five persons, each charged with stealing copies of 'The Press." from an honesty box in Lincoln Road on July 24. appeared before Judge Paterson in the District Court yesterday. Two denied the alleged offence, one was remanded without plea for a week, one was convicted and fined $25, and the fifth was discharged without conviction.

Sergeant J. E. Dwyer said as a result of the theft of a large number of copies of "The Press" from honesty boxes, the Christchurch Press Co.. Ltd. had complained to the police. As a consequence police kept an early morning watch on the particular box in Lincoln Road where losses were averaging $250 a month, said Sergeant Dwyer. Anthony George Leggett, aged 26, an upholsterer, who admitted the theft of one copy of the newspaper, was convicted and fined $25.

Sergeant Dwyer said Leggett was seen to remove a newspaper and to put money in the box.

When opened, the box contained only 15 cents. The price of a newspaper is 20 cents.

Leggett said he had only put 15 cents in because he did not have enough change. He said he had no inten-

tion of stealing because, if he had,' he could simply have taken the paper without put- ' ting any money at all in the box.

In imposing the fine the Judge said. unless payment was in full it amounted to theft.

Imre Nemeth, aged ' 43. charged with stealing two copies of the newspaper, valued at 40 cents was discharged without conviction after the judge said he accepted the defendant's explanation that he believed he had paid for them. When the police opened the box after . Nemeth had removed two copies it w r as found to be empty. He had told the police he had the money in his possession for the newspapers but had forgotten to put it in the box. Nemeth had pleaded guilty to the charge. Winston Allan Thomsen, aged 40, a spray painter (Mr T. M. Abbott), denied a charge of stealing a copy of the newspaper. He was remanded to October 12 for a defended hearing. Josef Fehevari, aged 66, a pensioner, was remanded to Septejmber 11 for a defended hearing on a charge of stealing two copies of "The Press."

Metva Urike, aged 50, a carting operator, who is al-

leged to have stolen one newspaper, was remanded without plea to September 8. DEFERRED SENTENCE

A man who was convicted of 22 charges of false pretence — all committed in a period of two weeks in July. 1976 — was given a two-year deferred sentence.

Peter Shane Gibson, aged 24. unemployed, who admitted the offences, was ordered to pav' compensation of $966, and $250 towards the costs of the prosecution. The Judge ordered that the payments be made at the rate of $lOO a month after Gibson returned to employment in Australia.

Counsel (Mr C. M. Ruane) said that after committing the offences Gibson went to Australia. He returned two months ago to visit his family.

He was arrested at the airport and had not realised that the offences were still outstanding.

Because of his 10-year involvement with drugs Gibson was physically and mentally in a very poor state of health and had gone to Australia to make a clean break. This had not been entirely successful initially, but while in Australia Gibson had received treatment at two hospitals and since had become deeply involved in the

work of Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous. said Mr Ruane. The Judge said that while the defendant deserved punishment. . the community would be better served if he had the opportunity to return to Australia and resume his employment there. ARSON CHARGE No plea was entered by a watersider who is charged with wilfully setting fire to the Montreal Street premises of the Ministry of Transport, last Sunday. Lester Mason Wilson, aged 26. (Miss E. Riddiford) was remanded on bail of $750 to September 8. FURTHER REMAND A woman alleged to have stolen a coin collection, valued at $lOOO, was further remanded without plea to September 8. Amanda Colleen Bray, aged 25. unemployed, is charged with having stolen the collection, the property of Marewa Agnes Waugh Jamieson, at Leeston, on April 1. Counsel (Miss J. McCartney) said the further remand was sought because there was a dispute over the value of the collection. 11 CHARGES A man facing 11 charges,

involving property worth I $3715, was remanded in cus- ! tody to September 10 for the taking of depositions. No pleas were entered by William Kainamu Hepi. aged 45. Unemployed (Mr K. J. Grave). Hepi is facing four charges each of theft and receiving and three of burglary. The alleged offences were said to have occurred in February and March.