Obscene calls

Press, 18 February 1984, Page 4

Obscene calls

A man convicted on two charges of using obscene language over the telephone and breaking and entering a house was remanded at large, to March 2, for a probation report and sentence when he appeared before Judge McAloon in the District Court yesterday. The defendant, a teacher, was granted continued interim suppression of his name. He was represented by Mr G. N. Nation. Sergeant M. J. South said that the defendant formerly knew the female complainant when they were both students. Late last year he learned that the complainant, now married, was living in Christchurch.

Early in December he broke into her house and took some female garments from a bedroom.

Sergeant South said that the defendant made obscene telephone calls which were traced back to him.

The defendant, a first offender, admitted having made the calls from his home while his wife was out. He had no explanation to offer. Because of the nature of the offences only parts of the police summary were read out.

BURGLARY CHARGE Two men charged with breaking into a Linwood Avenue shoe shop early yesterday were remanded without plea. Laurence Minhinnick, aged 25, is charged with breaking into Feet First Linwood Shoes, and driving

while disqualified in Harrow Street. Bail was opposed by Sergeant South who said that $660 worth of shoes were taken and that the defendant was already on bail on six other charges. Minhinnick was remanded in custody to February 21. Tony Reihana Hoani, aged 20, was remanded on bail of $l5OO to March 2. CUSTODY REMAND

Bail will be sought in the High Court for a man charged with producing a class B controlled substance containing morphine and other constituents of opium.

Stephen John Isherwood, aged 25, unemployed (Mr D. J. Taffs) was remanded in custody to February 22. He did not plead. Police say the offence occurred about December 12, last year. BENCH WARRANT

A warrant was issued for the arrest of William Joseph Behm, aged 31, a tow operator, charged with indecently assaulting a woman, aged 28.

On his first appearance last week the defendant, who did not plead, was granted bail of $lOOO and ordered to report daily to the police. On that occasion he was granted interim suppression of his name but no application was made yesterday. He is charged with committing the offence on February 10. DRUG CHARGE

Jurisdiction was declined and a labourer convicted of

importing a class B cannabis preparation was committed in custody to the High Court for sentence. John Morton Howe, aged 23, admitted the offence which took place at Christchurch on December 12, last year. The police summary was not read in court. Howe was represented by a duty solicitor, Mr P. D. Woolley. COMMUNITY SERVICE One hundred hours of community service was the sentence given to a woman, aged 18, who had earlier been convicted on 17 offences. Sharon Kerr, unemployed (Mr E. Bedp), had admitted 14 offences of fraud, one of converting a $9OOO van at Invercargill, one charge of receiving a cheque book, and one of possessing cannabis leaf. The offences, which included obtaining cash and property worth more than $lOOO, were committed in Invercargill, Alexandra, Cromwell, Queenstown and Christchurch during December, last year, and January. THEFT CHARGE Three men jointly charged with stealing a $l7OO car, on February 16, were each remanded on bail of $lOOO without plea. They are Peter James Soloman, aged 17; Stephen Brian Mulligan, aged 23, and Brian Lindsay Gough, aged 18, all unemployed. Soloman and Mulligan were remanded to March 2, and Gough to February 24.