Couple admit raid on liquor store

Press, 6 May 1983, Page 7

Couple admit raid on liquor store

A husband and wife who admitted breaking into Wilson Neill Wines and Spirits, Ltd, on Wednesday night, were yesterday convicted and remanded in custody to May 12 for probation reports and sentence when they appeared in the District Court before Judge Pain.

Sergeant J. E. Dwyer said that John Edward Mann, aged 34, and Philippa Jane Mann, aged 22 (Mr M. J. Glue) took three cartons of rum, valued at $627, after the husband scaled a 7fthigh security fence and smashed a window to get inside the building. One of the cartons, in being passed outside, fell and all the bottles were smashed, he said. The couple when arrested were each in possession of a carton of rum.

John Mann told the police he only “ripped off bottle stores because he was hungry for a taste,” said Sergeant Dwyer. Compensation of $209 for the carton which fell, and $4OO, in respect of the smashed window, were sought.

Mr Glue sought bail for the Manns.

John Paitaihanga Moeau, who faces the same charge, was remanded in custody to May 12 without pleading. REMAND

A man who admitted stealing two motor-cycles, valued at $4lOO, and a C.B. radio, valued at $425, was

convicted and remanded to May 19 for a probation report and sentence.

Paul William Unwin, aged 18, a food processor, stole a $l6OO motor-cycle on April 19, a $2500 motor-cycle on April 29, and a side-band radio, valued at $425, between April 24 and 26. Sergeant Dwyer said that the two motor-cycles were stolen from the Christchurch Polytechnic.

They were taken to the defendant’s address where number plates were changed, some items were removed, and some repainting was carried out on them.

One of the machines was located in the defendant’s possession, and the other in the possession of another person, said Sergeant Dwyer. The radio was one of two taken after two Farrier Waimak vehicles were interfered with. One was located in the defenddant’s bedroom. The other has not been recovered. Unwin offered no explanation for the offending. Compensation of $llO, in respect of missing motorcycle parts, was sought. WALLET THEFTS A man, aged 22, admitted stealing wallets, containing a total of $74 in cash, which belonged to staff at the Cashmere Primary School, because, he told police, he was “short of cash,” said Sergeant Dwyer. Michael John Dixon, un-

employed, (Mrs P. Gibson) was convicted and remanded on bail of $l2OO to May 19 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant Dwyer said that the defendant stole two wallets from handbags at the school on March 8, and one on April 26. It was on the last occasion that Dixon was caught Money taken from the earlier thefts had been spent. DEPOSITIONS

An unemployed man facing charges of assaulting two females at Sumner on February 19 elected trial by jury. John Alistair Harrison, aged 28 (Mr G. R. Lascelles), was remanded on bail to July 18 for the taking of depositions. THEFT CHARGE

A woman facing a charge of stealing two suitcases containing personal clothing and jewellery, valued at $9OB, was remanded without plea to May 12. Noeline Mary Maddock, aged 37, unemployed, is charged with committing the offence between August, 1981, and November, last year. NO PLEA A hairdresser charged with the theft of a $5500 car on February 16 was remanded to May 19. Lindsay Michael White, aged 32, did not plead. The car was the property of National Westminster Finance.

Bail was set at $750.