Jail term for indecency offence

Press, 18 June 1982, Page 5

Jail term for indecency offence

A man earlier convicted on two charges of indecently assaulting his daughter, aged 12. was sent to prison for mine months when he appeared for sentence before Judge Hobbs in the District Cout vesterday.

The’ defendant, aged 33. who was represented by Mr G. E. Langham, was granted final suppression of his name.

He was also put on probation for 18 month and ordered to undergo psychiatric treatment.

The Judge said that while accepting the defendant was in all other respects of good character he considered a prison sentence was appropriate. This was because the defendant, a farm, worker, had a similar conviction nine years ago, and a psychiatrist considered the complainant could suffer psychological problems as a result of the offences. The defendant committed the offences between January 1 and 31. and on February 20. ■

Mr Langham said his client had moved away from the area where the offences took place.

The defendant was aware he had a problem and had voluntarily gone to a doctor and had taken to attending church. The offences had been uncovered by the complainant’s mother who found entries relating to the offences in a schoolbook in her daughter's bedroom. $3OO FINE A youth, who stole a car. valued at $4OOO, which was later found on the north bank of the Ashley River minus four mag wheels, a car radio and speaker, and four sheepskin rugs, was fined $3OO when he appeared for sentence. In addition Trevor Alexander Cook, aged 17, a fitter, admitted stealing the car, the property of Steven Russell Marshall, at Rangiora on May 22. He was also disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for three

months. In explanation Cook had told the police that his own car had been stolen and the mag wheels removed. RECEIVING CHARGE A solo mother charged with receiving various items of clothing, to a total value of $1743. was remanded on bail to June 24. The defendant, who was granted interim suppression of her name, did not plead. It is alleged sne received the clothing from Marilyn Eckhold between June 7 and 10. REMAND David Eder, aged 36. unemployed. charged with stealing nine digital watches, to a total value of $595 on June 16, was remanded without plea to June 24. The watches were the property of Richmond Electrical, Ltd. FURTHER REMAND

A woman serving a life sentence for murder and facing a charge of escaping from the Paparua Women's

Prison on June 2 was further remanded to June 24. Wikitoria Hauti. aged 25 (Mr D. J. Taffs) was remanded in custody. On the application of Mr Taffs a psychiatric report will be obtained on the defendant. He said there were psychiatric matters involved in the motivation of the alleged offence. No plea was entered. $3OO FINE A self-employed massage parlour owner convicted of cultivating cannabis was fined $3OO when he appeared for sentence. Christopher Anker, aged 29. (Mr E. Bedo) had earlier admitted the offence which took place in the Motunau area. Mr Bedo had submitted that all his client had been charged with was in connection with 17 cannabis plants—not the 380 later seized by police in the Motunau area. Because of this he sought parity with the female co-

offender who had been fined $l5O.

The Judge said that in his view a fine of $l5O for cultivating cannabis was inadequate.

PERIODIC DETENTION A man who breached a non-molestation order was sentenced to periodic detention for four months.

The Judge told Peter Te Hau. aged 42. who had admitted the offence, that it was his second such offence. On the first occasion Te Hau was given a 12-months deferred sentence. and barely two months later, the present offence took place, he said. •

Earlier the prosecution

had said that at 10.10 p.m. on June 1 the defendant had gone round to his separated wife and had demanded to see his children. When refused he had picked up the family cat and had hit it against the side of the house. The wife and children had sought refuge with a neighbour.