Community service, suspended sentence

Press, 29 February 1984, Page 4

Community service, suspended sentence

A woman who obtained goods and services worth $2760 by the use of two stolen credit cards, was ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service when she appeared for sentence before Judge Jaine in the District Court yesterday. In addition, Suzanne Marie Irvine, aged 25, unemployed (Mr D. J. Taffs) was given a two-year deferred sentence on 15 of the offences. A special condition of the two-year probation period was that she was to undergo treatment and or counselling for drug addiction, said the Judge. By the suspended sentence, he told Irvine, a situation had been created whereby she could be brought back before the Court “if you put one foot out of line.” Irvine had used one credit card on 15 occasions in six days to obtain property worth $1059. She used the other 38 times in two weeks to obtain goods valued at $l7Ol. Liquor, perfume, food, clothing, cigarettes, and taxi rides were obtained. All the property had been sold to obtain money for drugs. The offences took place in Auckland in August and September, last year. Irvine was also convicted on a charge of possessing sufficient cannabis material to make one cigarette. Mr Taffs said that his client had a history of chronic drug abuse, and a psychiatric problem. Since the August offending, Irvine had spent three months in prison and had then not offended and stayed off drugs. Although compensation was not feasible for a person on an unemployment benefit the defendant would do her best if it was ordered. Mr Taffs asked for a sentence short of imprisonment. BREAK-IN A youth, aged 17, who admitted breaking into a Mcßratney’s Road store from which he took a large quantity of foodstuffs and small goods, valued at $234, told police he did not know why he did it except that it could have been due to boredom, said Sergeant L. J. Bruce. Shayne Richard Dowdell, a labourer, was convicted and remanded on bail to March 13 for a probation

report and sentence. Sergeant Bruce said that at 2.40 a.m. yesterday the police were called to an address where they found Dowdell and a large quantity of food on a table. Dowdell admitted having broken into a large freezer at the rear of Gayhursts Store, from which, in three trips, he removed the food. Compensation of $2O was sought for damage to the freezer, said Mr Bruce. PASSPORT CHARGE Alister John Barr, aged 27, unemployed, was remanded in custody to March 13 on a charge of giving false details in order to obtain a passport. Barr is charged with the $104,000 armed robbery of the Lumsden branch of the Bank of New Zealand. He told the Judge that he expected to know the date of the third trial relating to the robbery in about 14 days. He sought a remand on the passport charge for a similar period and indicated he would “possibly” plead not guilty. FRAUD OFFENCES A man, aged 62, who fraudulently obtained accommodation, liquor, and massage parlour services, to a total value of $l5OO, later went to the police and said he was ashamed of what he had done, said Sergeant Bruce. Frederick Alexander Wilson (Mr E. Bedo) admitted 15 offences of fraud. He was convicted and remanded on renewed bail to March 15 for a probation report and sentence. Mr Bruce said that the offences occurred at Christchurch, Timaru, Blenheim, and Nelson during the last two months. Wilson, on January 13, had obtained a new cheque book and proceeded to write out cheques well in excess of his available credit. At the time of the offending, he ceased his employment. Wilson told the police he had been under emotional pressures at the time, said Mr Bruce. DRUG CHARGES No pleas were entered by a gardener to charges of cultivating cannabis, possessing the drug for sale or supply, and being in possession of a pipe for the purpose of committing an offence against the Misuse of Drugs Act. Declan Dennis Hetherington, aged 28, was remanded

on bail to March 13. He is charged with committing the offences between October 21, last year, and February 21. SHOPLIFTING Fines totalling $lBO was the sentence given to a solo mother earlier convicted on six charges of shoplifting on December 13, last year. Donna Lucille Pearce, aged 26 (Mr W. Rosenberg) had admitted stealing assorted articles, valued at $BO, because, she later told police, she “wanted some cheap Christmas presents.” The Judge said that in view of the defendant’s financial circumstances, he would have thought she would have consented to community service rather than struggle with a fine. Pearce had refused community service. BURGLARY Compensation of $3505 was sought from a man who admitted burgling the Cashel Street premises of Showcase Fashions on October 26, last year. Stephen Teese, aged 26, a sickness beneficiary (Mr E. Bedo) was convicted on this charge and one of a periodic detention breach. He was remanded on bail of $l5OO to March 15 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant Bruce said that after breaking into the shop, Teese had then broken open a cash register and removed $5O in cash. He also took clothing, valued at $2575, none of which had been recovered. The cost of replacing the cash register was $7OO, said Mr Bruce. Mr Bedo said that his client, while admitting the burglary, denied taking any of the clothing. The Judge said that this area of dispute could be discussed between the police and Mr Bedo before sentence. CAR CHARGE Mark David Shaw, aged 23, unemployed, was incorrectly reported in “The Press” yesterday as having been charged with the theft of a $5500 vehicle, on November 23, last year. The person charged with this offence should have been Mark Anthony Eathorne, aged 27. Eathorne and Shaw are jointly charged with breaking into a Main North Road dairy on two occasions last year. Both were remanded on bail, without plea, to March