Fraud ‘to feed alcoholism’

Press, 22 September 1983, Page 4

Fraud ‘to feed alcoholism’

Eighteen charges of fraud, involving property totalling $7129. were committed by a man, aged 20. who told the police that he was an alcoholic and needed money to support his habit, said Sergeant C. J. Healey in the District Court yesterday.

Neville John Giles, unemployed (Mr K. J. Grave), admitted committing the offences in Christchurch, Greymouth, Culverden, Darfield and Blenheim during July and August. He was convicted by Judge Pain who remanded him to October 6 for a probation report and sentence. Bail was renewed.

Sergeant Healey said that the defendant had committed a number of the offences with his own cheques. He had obtained cash, liquor, groceries, a motorcycle, two cars, valued at $2600 and $2200 each, and a cassette recorder.

The motor-cycle was recovered at a motor camp where it had been left by Giles. One car had been sold for $2OOO in a hotel bar. This had since been recovered, said Sergant Healey.

Other offences had later taken place using a temporary cheque book with which he was issued after opening a bank account with a deposit of $5O. Giles had been ap-

prehended in the second car which he “purchased.” Property worth $5788 had been recovered and compensation of $1341 was sought, said Sergeant Healev. CHARGES DENIED Charges relating to a fatal accident in Fitzgerald Avenue in May in which two women were killed were denied by an Australian sales representative. lan Gordon Carter, aged 35, was remanded to November 28 for a defended hearing. He is charged with causing the deaths of Barbara Kay Scott and Carol Jane Brenssell by carelessly using a car, and by carelessly using a car while driving at a speed in excess of 50 km/h. The accident was said by police to have occurred on May 21. (Before Judge Fogarty) INDECENT ASSAULT A man, aged 20, changed his plea to guilty to a charge of indecently assaulting a girl, aged five years, on August 17. The defendant, Wayne Thomas Moore, unemployed (Mr A. Garrett), was convicted and remanded to October 7 for sentence. Sergeant J. E. Dwyer said that, when questioned by police about the incident, the defendant said he had a problem and hoped for ■ some help.