Burglar sent to prison for 18 months

Press, 18 February 1983, Page 4

Burglar sent to prison for 18 months

An unemployed man convicted of breaking into three properties from where he stole antiques, furniture and alcohol, to a total value of $15,770. was sent to prison for 18 months by Judge Paterson in the District Court yesterday. Appearing for sentence was Mark William Smith, aged 22 (Mr C. D. Eason), who had admitted the offences. Smith had been at a party in a Peverel Street flat on February 9. During the night he broke into an adjoining flat from where he took coins, antiques, furniture, and • electrical equipment, valued at $14,000. Smith told the police that all he got from the sale of the property was $3OO. On January 27 Smith smashed a window in the Papanui Tavern bottle store from where he removed cartons of rum and wine worth $775. Some of the rum was later sold at a party for $5 a bottle.

Alcohol, worth $lOO5. was stolen by Smith when he broke into the Richmond Working Men’s Club bottle store on January 18. In addition to the three burglaries Smith admitted, and was convicted of. stealing tapes and car accessories. valued at $145, from a car on January 27. and converting a car on January 18. DEFENDED HEARING Two fishermen charged with stealing three fishing nets, valued at $2OOO. were remanded at large to April 14 for a defended hearing. Richard Marley Brown, aged 39, and Andrew Stafford Hamilton, aged 22, are charged with having committed the offence at Pegasus Bay on December 15, last year. The defendants were represented by Mr K. J. Jones. The fishing nets are the property of Warren James Matthews. BOOKMAKING CHARGE An unemployed man alleged to have carried on the business of a bookmaker on

February 16 was remanded to April 11 for a defended hearing. Henry Charles Gardiner, aged 42. (Mr D. C. Fitzgibbon) was granted bail of $lOOO, with a surety of the same amount, and he was ordered to report twice a week to the police. Bail was opposed by Sergeant G. C. Jones because of the nature of the alleged offence, and as Gardiner is already on bail for two similar offences. ASSAULT CHARGE A man charged with assaulting a child, aged four, on February 5, denied the alleged offence. Richard Smith, aged 17 (Mr D. C. Fitzgibbon), was remanded on bail to May 2 for a defended hearing. DRUG OFFENCE An unemployed man who admitted attempting to buy pethedine. a class B controlled drug, was convicted and remanded on bail to March 3 for a probation report and sentence.

Sergeant Jones said that Stephen John. Isherwood. aged 25. (Mr M. J. Gluq). had made a telephone call to a Christchurch house seeking to obtain pethedine. Police were at the house in connectin with a search for drugs.

A police officer took the call and told the defendant that the person he was calling was not in.

Isherwood then asked the police officer, who had not identified himself as such, if he could help him obtain the drug.

Arrangements were made for the defendant to meet a plainclothes officer in Opawa. said Sergeant Jones.

Isherwood met the officer and asked for the pethedine. saying he had the money to pay for it.

He was then taken to the Central Police Station where he was found to have $6OO in a waistcoat pocket. The defendant said that he needed the drug for himself and his girlfriend.