House burglaries admitted

Press, 10 January 1984, Page 16

House burglaries admitted

Proceeds from a house burglary were used by Stephen Edward Wells to travel to Wellington where he committed another burglary when he was short of money, the District Court was told yesterday. Wells, aged 21, unemployed, pleaded guilty before Judge Fraser to three charges of burglary of dwellings and one of committing a breach of periodic detention by failing to report to the work centre.

He was convicted and remanded in custody to January 16 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant M. J. South said

that the defendant and an associate entered a flat in Gloucester Street on September 28 by kicking in the front door. They took a colour television set, which was sold by the associate for $2OO. The defendant’s car was used for this burglary. The money was used to travel to Wellington. In Wellington on October 28 the defendant was drinking in a hotel with another person and they decided to commit a burglary because they were short of money. They went to a flat which the associate suggested and broke into it, taking a cas-sette-player and 300 cassette tapes.

On November 25 the defendant alighted from a bus in Hills Road and saw that there were no lights on at a house. He then broke into the dwelling and took a colour television set which he placed outside. The set was later recovered by the owner.

Mrs P. D. Gibson, for the defendant, sought bail and said he was now living in a stable de facto relationship. This had occurred since the offences and had had a stabilising effect on him. The Judge declined bail. WEAPON OFFENCE On a charge of being unlawfully in possession of a .303 rifle on December 3 a man, aged 44, was placed on probation for a year, with a condition that he undertake counselling as directed by the probation officer. Final suppression of his name was granted.

The defendant had previously admitted the offence and was appearing for sentence.

The police summary of the offence had been that police were called when the defendant’s wife telephoned to say he was driving to an address with a loaded rifle in his car.

A police cordon was set up around the area and when apprehended the defendant did not resist the police. The rifle was not loaded and the magazine was not affixed. His counsel (Mr W. E. Herbison) said yesterday that the incident arose from a domestic argument, involving a relative. Soon after taking the rifle the defendant realised his actions were foolish. He was very familiar with firearms, being a keen game shooter. Mr Herbison produced a

medical report which had been compiled soon after the offence and said that this made reference to a "not insubstantial” injury suffered by the defendant in a car accident two weeks before the offence. The offence had been entirely out of character. The Judge did not make an order for forfiture of the rifle. He said he would leave this matter to be dealt with under provisions of the Arms Act. SEVEN CHARGES

On two charges of indecency, one of burglary, and four of theft, David William Kirk, aged 43, unemployed, was remanded in custody, without plea, to January 16. He is charged with inde-

cently assaulting a boy, aged 14 years, inducing the same boy to do an indecent act upon him — on January 2— breaking and entering the greenkeeper’s shed at the Windsor Golf Club on November 29, and four thefts of items worth $2OO between September 1 and December 26.

The theft charges include a binocular valued at $5O, belonging to the North Beach Surf Club. ASSAULT CHARGE

On a charge of assaulting a woman constable in the execution of her duty on January 8 Ormond Christian Russell Warren, aged 34, unemployed, was remanded on bail, without plea, to January 16.