Man discharged in wheelchair case

Press, 15 January 1982, Page 5

Man discharged in wheelchair case

A horse trainer who appeared for sentence' on a charge of theft of a wheelchair from the North Canterbury Hospital Board while employed as a hospital night porter between April 1 and May 31 last year, was yesterday discharged without conviction.

Final suppression of his name was also granted by Judge Fraser in the District Court.

At an earlier court appearance at which the defendant admitted the offence, police said the defendant had removed the wheelchair from a store-room and taken it to the training property which he rented, intending to use the wheels for a racing sulkv.

He lound they were too small and subsequently returned the wheels to the board during a hospital amnestv.

However, the owner of the property found the aban-

doned wheelchair, and notified the police, after the defendant moved to another area.

Mr S. G. Erber in submissions in mitigation of penalty said the defendant could not explain why he had not returned the wheelchair as well as the wheels to take full advantage of the amnesty. Mr Erber said a conviction would mean the immediate "forfeiture" of his livelihood as a horse trainer. He said the offence was an isolated act. and unlikety to be reported. He successfully sought a penalty which would not impose a conviction and suppression of name. The Judge acceded to the submissions, saying the circumstances warranted a discharge without conviction. Compensation of $173 was ordered and the defendant was also ordered to pay $l5O towards the cost of prosecution.