Drug dealer ‘not a Mr Big’

Press, 5 December 1981, Page 7

Drug dealer ‘not a Mr Big’

An art director convicted of selling five ounces of cannabis for $625 to an undercover police officer was sentenced to periodic detention for eight months when he appeared for sentence before Judge Fogarty in the District Court yesterday. Roger Paul Griffiths, aged 29 (Mr M. J. Glue) had earlier admitted the offence which took place on November 4. Having regard to Griffiths' earlier conviction for cultivating cannabis in 1979 the Judge said he would have thought this would have deterred him from further offending. Counsel (Mr M. J. Glue) said Griffiths was not a principal but had played only a minor role. The police, said Mr Glue, had not caught a “Mr Big" on this occasion. At the previous hearing the prosecution said that through an intermediary the undercover policeman had met Griffiths who had offered to obtain 10 ounces of cannabis for sale at $125 an ounce. Griffiths had only been able to get five ounces for which he was paid $625. THREAT CHARGE A man who faces one charge of breaking into a house in Guildford Street and another of threatening to kill the two occupants was remanded without plea to December 11. Christopher Alexis Kiriona, aged 28. a labourer, is alleged to have committed the offences on December 2. Kiriona, who was represented by the duty solicitor (Mr G. T. Steele) was allowed bail of $lOOO. He was ordered to report three times weekly to the police and to stay away from either complainant. FRAUD OFFENCES Errol Cheyne Day, aged 21, a labourer, who admitted 19 charges of fraud, involving $1437, was convicted and remanded in custody to December 11 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant M. South said the offences arose through the manipulation of three cheque accounts opened and operated by the defendant during the last two months. Day, he said, presented cheques from the three accounts on 19 occasions which enabled him to obtain cash, petrol, a rental vehicle, alcohol, clothing, a car stereo and motor-vehicle accessories to a total value of $1437. Day told the police he committed the offences to obtain cash for a trip to the North Island. Compensation of $lOB9 was sought. An application for bail by counsel (Mr J. S. Halls) was refused.

ESCAPE CHARGE Graeme Bertram Lewis, age.d 22. charged with escaping from Paparua Prison on October 16. was remanded in custody to December 11 without pleading. ASSEMBLY CHARGES Five men facing charges of being members of an unlawful assembly were each remanded on bail of $750 to December 18. No pleas were entered by: Gregor}’ Lance Bamford, aged 20, an apprentice mechanic: William Thomas Michael Holmes, aged 22, a sandblaster: John William Frater. aged 20, Robert Micheal Hendry, aged 20, and Michael John Holmes, aged 19, all unemployed. The two-week remand was sought by Mr Steele, the duty solicitor, because, he said, further inquiries were being made by the prosecution. It is alleged that the five were members of an unlawful assembly with intent to carry out retributiion on the residents of a house in Edgeware Road on December 4. BENCH WARRANT Because of his non-appear-ance a warrant was issued for the arrest of a pensioner charged with theft. Lance Frederick Barr, aged 47, is alleged to have stolen cosmetics, valued at $lO5, from a Christchurch department store on December 3. PERIODIC DETENTION A man convicted of indecently assaulting two small girls "in the back room of a New Brighton shop was sentenced to periodic detention for 10 months. Nigel Colin McKenzie, aged 57, admitted the offence which took place on the afternoon of November 5 while he was working in a shop at New Brighton. The Judge said the offences were serious and would normally merit a custodial sentence. In addition to periodic detention McKenzie was put on probation for 18 months and ordered to undergo such

medical treatment or counselling as might be directed. The two small girls, one aged' nine, and the other, aged eight, went into the shop and after speaking to the defendant they were told to go into a room at the rear and undress. They did. The defendant then committed the offences after which each girl was given a carton of milk. Neither complainant suffered any physical injury. Counsel (Mr D. J. R. Holderness) said his client was ashamed and remorseful and acknowledged he had a problem and was seeking treatment. FURTHER REMAND A man facing two charges of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl, aged 14. in a rural Canterbury town, was further remanded to December 21. No plea was entered by the defendant, aged 43, who is alleged to have committed the offences between May and November. Counsel (Mr G. N. Langham) said the further remand was to enable a psychiatric report to be completed. Interim suppression of the name of the defendant and bail granted earlier were continued.