Receiving counts involve goods worth $3649

Press, 24 February 1984, Page 7

Receiving counts involve goods worth $3649

Property worth $41,332 had been taken from three Christchurch burglaries, and the only property recovered, worth $3649, was that found in the defendant’s possession, said Sergeant G. G. Cleland in the District Court yesterday. Gary John Harvey, aged 24, a storeman driver (Mr J. H. Wood), was convicted on three charges of receiving property to this value. Judge Pain remanded him on bail of $4OOO to March 8 for a probation report and sentence. Harvey had admitted receiving an Oriental silk rug, valued at $ll5O, the pro-

perty of the Old Curiosity Shop, a video recorder, worth $1899, the property of Group Rentals (N.Z.), Ltd, and 21 shirts, valued at $6OO, the property of Ambler and Company. Sergeant Cleland said that seven video units, valued at $15,733, had been taken from the Main North Road premises of Group Rentals. A large quantity of men’s and women’s clothing, valued at $17,999, had been : stolen from the Ferry Road premises of Ambler and Company. Thieves had taken three carpets worth $7600 from the Olde Curiosity Shop. The defendant had been spoken to as a result of extensive police inquiries into the burglary of the three firms, said Sergeant Cleland. At Harvey’s address 21 shirts, a silk carpet, and a video recorder were found. Harvey had denied any involvement in the burglaries but said he knew who had been involved. He refused to name the person from whom he had received the stolen property. Sergeant Cleland said that the defendant had not paid for the property he had received. He had the items on trial and intended to pay later when he had some money. Harvey admitted, and was convicted, on a charge of possessing cannabis which was found during the search of his address. CHARGE AMENDED A charge of possessing cocaine, said by counsel to have been laid indictably in error, was amended by the Judge to be dealt with summarily. Darcy Yee, aged 42, self

employed, (Mrs P. D. Gibson), faces charges of possessing cocaine, a class B controlled drug, cannabis leaf, and the unlawful possession of .32-calibre automatic pistol ammunition on February 9. He was further remanded to March 1 without plea. Mrs Gibson said that because of the earlier error she understood a fresh charge would be laid.

At the request of Sergeant Cleland, the Judge amended the cocaine charge to make it a summary offence. Bail of $5OOO, granted earlier in the High Court, was renewed by the Judge. BAIL REMAND No pleas were entered by a man facing nine charges of fraud, and two of theft. Geoffrey Robert Muir, aged 29, a sickness beneficiary (Mr E. J. Tait) was remanded on bail to March 7.

He is charged with committing the alleged offences, by which he obtained liquor, clothing, shoes, and cash, during September and October, last year. RECEIVING CHARGES Bail was set at $2OOO for a sickness beneficiary who is on four charges of receiving, involving property worth $ll3O, and two drug charges. Dean Andrew Hamilton, aged 29, is charged with receiving during December, last year, and January.

Charges of possessing cannabis, and a needle, syringe, and pipe for the commission of an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act, are said by police to have taken place on February 22. Hamilton did not plead to the charges. FURTHER INQUIRIES As police inquiries were continuing a man charged with receiving jewellery, worth $948, was remanded, without plea to March 8. Thomas Bates Upjohn, ■, aged 29 (Mr Knight) had indicated he intended to plead not guilty to a charge of receiving a gold double sovereign-holder, a gold and diamond ring, and a gold presentation medal between January 15 and 18. CHARGES DENIED Two of three youths facing charges arising from a disturbance at a punk rock dance in Harewood Road on February 11 denied the offences. August Peter Van Oyen, aged 18, a fitter, charged with unlawfully possessing an offensive weapon — a steel bar — in Harewood Road, was remanded to April 9 for a defended hearing. Glen Douglas Rossiter, aged 23, unemployed, was remanded to April 4 for a iefended hearing on a charge of assaulting a jolice officer in the execu;ion of his duty. Scott Owen McDougall, aged 24, unemployed, who is charged with intentionally damaging a windows, the property of the Waimairi County Council, was remanded to March 1. The remand is to enable a counsel to be assigned to him.

DISORDERLY BEHAVI-

A man who told police he had no intention of paying $17.50 to see the Elton John concert was fined $75 after admitting behaving in a disorderly manner at the Addington Show Grounds on -'February 19. Peter James Hobb, aged 25, a labourer, had been caught climbing a fence to get into the concert. He had also made a second attempt He was intoxicated at the time, said Sergeant Cleland. The Judge said he was surprised the defendant had taken such trouble to seek entry to the show as he'ttiad

told the police he was not a fan of the entertainer. UNLAWFUL PRESENCE

Stephen John Caton, aged 17, a process worker, was fined $125 following his conviction on a charge of being found unlawfully in the Christchurch Press Company building on February 2.

Caton was one of three persons apprehended by staff in the cafeteria.

Counsel (Miss E. H. B. Thompson) said that her client had gone along with the others. The incident had not been preplanned, and Caton realised he had been foolish. NINE MONTHS JAIL

Such savagery had no place in the community, the Judge told a man appearing for sentence before him on a charge of assault with intent to injure. Albert Stephen Karena, aged 20 (Mr A. N. D. Garrett) a person who, the Judge said, had a propensity for violence, was sent to prison for nine months. Karena had admitted, during a depositions hearing, assaulting Christopher Tunu Too outside the Kings Night Club on December 17, last year. During the unprovoked assault Mr Too had been knocked down by the defendant who then kicked him in the face and hit him over the head with a full bottle of beer. Mr Too suffered a cut

over his right eye, an injured ear, and four missing teeth. SIX MONTHS JAIL David William O’Shea, aged 25, unemployed, (Mr E. Bedo) convicted earlier of receiving a $2OO silver bracelet and possessing cannabis was sent to prison for six months. O’Shea, said the Judge, had an unenviable list of court appearances which indicated that offending appeared to have become a way of life with him. A custodial sentence had to be imposed as a deterrent to others and to afford some protection for the community, said the Judge. O'Shea had been found wearing the bracelet which was taken in a $12,900 jewellery haul from an Ham Road house burglary. He told the police he had paid $4O for it. PERIODIC DETENTION Periodic detention for six months was the sentence given to Rod Rick Te Nana earlier convicted of breaking into the Selwyn Street premises of Electrical Construction, Ltd, on February 8.

Te Nana, aged 23, unemployed (Mr M. J. Glue) was apprehended on the E iremises as he was about to eave with some assorted property. He told police he had been short of money as “the dole did not give him enough.”