Shop raider sent to jail

Press, 31 January 1984, Page 4

Shop raider sent to jail

A man convicted earlier of a “smash and grab” burglary from which almost $9OOO worth of property was stolen and $2OOO of damage done was sent to prison for nine months by Judge McAloon in the District Court yesterday.

David Epiha Pihama, aged 31, an unemployed chef (Mr M. J. Glue) was told by the Judge that his offending had been “an entirely inappropriate response" to an earlier com-munity-based sentence for burglary. Pihama had admitted breaking into the Merivale Mall shop of Noel Leeming, Ltd, on January 23, from which four video-cassette recorders, valued at $BBB3, were stolen.

Compensation of $2OOO had been sought in respect of damage to the recorders, display stands, and a broken window. Mr Glue said that the offence arose because of financial difficulties being experienced by his client. Pihama had told the police he had planned to sell the videos to pay off outstanding debts. Now that Pihama had the

prospect of a job and would soon be in a position to begin paying compensation, Mr Glue sought the imposition of a further term of periodic detention. The term of imprisonment is to be followed by 12 months probation. CHARGE DENIED

A charge of assaulting a female on September 15 was denied by a medical student.

The defendant, who was represented by Mr M. J. Knowles, was remanded at large to March 19 for a defended hearing. Interim suppression of the name of the defendant was continued. ASSAULT There were ways of ending a relationship but the defendant’s method was totally unacceptable, the Judge told Tafiti Tolova’a. Tolova’a, aged 32, a foreman (Mr W. Rosenberg), who admitted assaulting a woman, was convicted and fined $2OO, half of which is to be paid to the defendant.

An application for suppression of the defendant’s name was refused by the Judge. Sergeant G. G. Cleland said that at 3.45 p.m. on

January 13 the complainant had ridden her motor-cycle to Lincoln Road to see her boyfriend, the defendant, regarding his decision to end their relationship.

The defendant had become aggressive. He punched her visor, which broke, and the blow knocked the complainant off her machine.

Tolova’a picked the woman up and tried, unsuccessfully, to drag her into his flat. He then punched her in the face several times.

Sergeant Cleland said that no serious injury was caused.

Tolova’a, in explanation, told the police that he committed the offence because he was annoyed with the complainant’s questions regarding his relationship with another woman. COMPENSATION BID

Compensation of $3794 is sought from two men convicted of burgling a Harewood Road Service Station on January 13. Sergeant Cleland said that items stolen had all been recovered but that the cash recorder, valued at $3794, had been damaged beyond repair. Glenn Colin Sayers, aged

21, a textile worker, and Dean John Sayers, aged 21, a storeman, represented by Mr C. D. Eason, were each remanded on bail to February 14 for probation reports and sentence.

They admitted the offence. Both defendants said that they had been drinking prior to the burglary. THEFT CHARGES An application for interim suppression of the name of a man facing nine charges of theft, involving property worth $661, was refused by the Judge. Bernard Phillip Delmonte, aged 56, a supervisor, was remanded at large, without plea, to February 7. He is charged with stealing property which included clothing, liquor, foodstuffs, cigarettes, and three transistor radios, from eight firms. PERIODIC DETENTION A man convicted on four charges of false pretence by which he obtained items worth $lOlO, was sentenced to periodic detention for five months.

Stephen Ward Peebles, aged 24, unemployed (Mr E. Bedo), had admitted the offences which occurred be-

tween September 20 and October 15, last year. Worthless cheques were issued to buy items such as Groceries and electronic equipment. Peebles was also put on probation for 18 months and ordered to pay compensation of $715 as directed. One item, worth $295, had been recovered from a second-hand dealer’s shop. SHOPLIFTING

It was to the defendant’s credit that he had voluntairly gone to the police and admitted four shoplifting offences, said the Judge.

On each charge Hatarei Kouroa Peka, aged 25, unemployed, was convicted and fined $5O. Items stolen had included stereo equipment and tools. Peka had told the police that he had been depressed on the day he committed the offences because of an argument with his girlfriend. WITHDRAWN A charge of unlawfully possessing a num-chukka in Cambridge Terrace on December 22 laid against Russell Victor Sykes, aged 20, a painter-paperhanger, was withdrawn by the police. .