Man ‘terrified nun, entered hospital wards’

Press, 21 April 1982, Page 7

Man ‘terrified nun, entered hospital wards’

Nelson reporter

After terrifying an elderly and sick nun in the Nelson convent, an unemployed steel worker had gone to the Nelson Public Hospital, stole a set of X-rays and . items of medical uniform. and masquerading as a doctor, visited several wards in the hospital. Judge Headifen was told in the District Court at Nelson yesterday.. The man. aged 22. was granted interim suppression of his name until April 23 when he will appear for sentence on five charges to which he pleaded guilty. The Judge called for a probation officer's report and remanded him in custody. He admitted failing to report as directed after being released on probation at Tauranga. converting a car valued at $5500 on April 1. and, on the night of April 12, entering the convent in Manuka Street and Ward 2 of the Nelson Public Hospital with intent to commit crimes therein, of stealing X-rays valued. at $530 from the hospital and various items of clothing valued at $ll5 from the hospital. Sergeant D. Allen said that about 8.15 p.m. on April 12, the nuns at the convent in Manuka Street were disturbed by a prowler who had entered the confines of the convent. The defendant entered a bedroom occupied by an elderly and sick nun

and she was terrified of him. He left the room and was challenged by nuns while descending the stairs. The police were called but there was no trace of the man.

About 9.45 p.m. the defendant entered the public hospital. went to the X-ray department and took a set of X-rays. He then equipped himself with various items of uniform and put them on, said Sergeant Allen. He walked through several wards armed with the X-rays and entered a room in the maternity block where a mother and her baby were sleeping. He leaned over the mother and she awoke quite startled, but calmed down when he said he was a doctor. He talked with her for a short time, gave her a false name and left. He was seen by other members of the staff in other wards and the police were alerted, said Sergeant Allen. The defendant was apprehended leaving the hospital, still dressed in uniform and carrying the X-rays. When spoken to he insisted he was a doctor but later said be had an obsession about nurses and uniforms. He knew he had a psychological problem but did not want to do anything about it or get any help. He vaguely recalled being in the convent that night. He had been drinking but was not drunk, said Sergeant Allen.