11-month hay-stealing claim

Press, 28 October 1982, Page 4

11-month hay-stealing claim

Organised hay thefts involving a former stablehand and unsuspecting horse trainers operated in Canterbury for nearly a year, the District Court was told yesterday in a depositions hearing. Grant Ernest Taylor, a butcher, aged 30 (Mr K. N. Hampton), has chosen trial by jury on six charges of receiving a total of 342 hay bales, valued at $l6BB. It was alleged that Taylor took stolen hay by arrangement from Clifford James Jordan and sold it to horse trainers during an 11-month period ending last August. Detective Sergeant J. M

Lyall said that a horse trainer. Mr G. D. Mangos, would later give evidence that he bought hay from Mr Taylor. believing it camefrom a legitimate source. Jordan, a bushman. aged 40. said that he had already been convicted for stealing the hay from two farms in Weedons and Templeton. He and Taylor had been drinking together at a hotel last year when Taylor asked if he could get some hay. The defendant had not been bothered when Jordan told him it would be “hot." Each time he stole a load of bales at about 9 p.m. and. with one exception, delivered

them the same evening to destinations earlier arranged with Taylor at a hotel. "If he was getting low he would ask me to get some more." he said. ’ Six loads totalling about 300 bales were delivered to a Yaldhurst training stable where Taylor was working. "The gate was always open." said Jordan. The trainer, .Mr Mangos, or Taylor usually handed him a cheque at the stable yard within the next two days — $3 for each bale delivered. Once the defendant gave him cash and he was not paid for the last load of hay left stacked outside the stables.

He saw Taylor the following day al a hotel and was told the police had seized the last load. Another load had gone to a destination in Middlepark Road. He assumed that the hay was for the defendant’s horses, trained in partnership with Mr Mangos, and did not know any were being resold until Taylor said' he was adding 50 cents to the bale price. Taylor had asked and on one occasion been told the source of the hay so that be would keep quiet. “It would be obvious to anybody dealing in hay that you could not get it at those

prices honestly." said Jordan. Jordan said he also sold hay to other Canterbury horse trainers, telling them it was payment he received for part-time farm work. During cross-examination by Mr Hampton. Jordan agreed that he had never been one for remembering dates. But he insisted that an approach made by Taylor was the first time he became involved in stealing hay. Two farmers. Mr J. T. F. Curragh and Mr K. R. Shadbolt, also made deposition statements about their stolen bales before the Justices of the Peace, Mr C. A. Pilgrim and Mrs R. Subritzky. The hearing will continue today.