Convictions for raid

Press, 29 October 1981, Page 10

Convictions for raid

Two men convicted of the 516,500 “smash-and-grab” burglary of a Lyttelton jewellers’ were remanded in custody for probation reports and sentence w’hen they appeared before Judge Bradford in the District Court yesterday.

Malcolm Robertson Hurst, aged 17. unemployed, (Mr E. Bedo) and John Michael Dineen, aged 22, a gardener (Mr S. G. Barker) both admitted burgling the London Street premises of Lloyds Jewellers on October 16.

Sergeant G. G. Cleland said that at 12.30 a.m. that day the front window of the jewellers’ was smashed and jewellery amounting, to $16,624 was taken. Damage was estimated at $5OO.

A car containing the two defendants was seen to drive off at speed without its lights on.

This vehicle was later found in a nearby street. Inside were several items of stolen property and some empty ring trays, said Sergeant Cleland. The occupants of the car were followed to the harbour where one was seen to throw some items into the water. Sergeant Cleland said pro-

perty worth $lOOO was recovered’.

Hurst took the police to a Lyttelton garden where he recovered 25 rings, valued at $7555, that he had buried there.

Dineen said he had thrown his share of the stolen • property into the harbour when he saw the police car approaching. All attempts to recover 35 rings, valued at $9069, from the harbour had failed and compensation of this amount was sought from the defendant. said the sergeant. Both defendants will appear for sentence on November 4. - $2OOO BAIL Guy Andrew Dryden, aged 17, who appeared on four charges of burglary and one of converting a car, was remanded without plea to November 4.. Bail was set at $lOOO with a surety of the same amount. The alleged offences were said to have occurred during the last two months. ASSAULT

A dispute between two motorists resulted in one of them being convicted on a charge of assault and remanded on bail to November

11 for a probation report and sentence.

John Cavan Rice, aged 19, a machine operator, admitted assaulting Andrew Leslie Scott on October 25.

Sergeant Cleland said the defendant had struck the complainant while holding a glass in his hand. As a result the complainant received a wound which required 16 stitches. Rice also needed stitches to a cut in his hand.

In explanation he told the police that when he hit the complainant he forgot about the glass in his hand. $550 FINE

"If everyone behaved as you did we would have civil war on the roads,” the Judge told a driver who was convicted on three traffic offences.

Harry Solovota. aged 29, had admitted causing bodily injury to John Anthony Garlick by driving in a dangerous manner in Blenheim Road, failing to stop to ascertain whether anyone had been injured, and failing to stop after an accident. Sergeant Cleland said that about 8 p.m. on October 16 the defendant was driving along Blenheim , Road when

he became dazzled by the headlights of a motor-cycle behind him which had its headlight beam on high.

At the next set of traffic lights the defendant called out to the motor-cyclist to dim his lights for which he was abused.

The defendant caught up with the motor-cyclist after a short chase. The left-hand side of the car caught the motor-cycle which crashed, throwing the driver to the ground. ’ In imposing fines totalling $550 and disqualification from holding a driver's licence for 12 months the Judge said that while he could understand a driver’s annoyance at being dazzled bv headlights a reasonable motorist would have simply shifted the position of his rear-vision mirror. $4OO FINE A man earlier convicted of cultivating 65 cannabis plants and of being in possession of 415 cannabis seeds was fined $4OO whgn he appeared for sentence* Alexander James Henderson, aged 29. a gas'’cutter, had admitted the two offences which occurred on October 6.