TV set, video theft and frauds

Press, 1 March 1984, Page 4

TV set, video theft and frauds

A man formerly employed as functions manager at the Chateau Regency admitted stealing a television set and video recorder, valued at $3050, from the premises because, he told police, he did not possess such items and was short of money at the time, said Sergeant W. P. Creasey in the District Court yester-

day. Marc Laurie Denton, aged 28, a bar manager (Mr K. N. Hampton), was also convicted by Judge Bradford on a charge of fraudulently using a replica Mount Cook Group order form, on February 17, to obtain two videos, worth $4OOO, from a Christchurch store. He was allowed bail of $4OOO and remanded to March 16 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant Creasey said that after the hotel proprietors discovered the television and video recorder missing, in June, last year, the matter was reported to the police. ' The stolen items, the property of Vision Hire Holdings, Ltd, were found at the defendant’s home when a search warrant was exe-

cuted. Denton told police he had acted on the spur of the moment.

Of the two videos purchased with the replica order form the defendant told police he saw an opportunity to get something for nothing and took it, said Sergeant Creasey. Denton altered the order form which he had obtained from a company representative who presented it to him, as a bar manager at the Regency, to pay for a function held there.

After altering the order Denton gave it to an associate, who was unaware of any criminal intention, to purchase the videos. The videos were both recovered undamaged, said Sergeant Creasey. DEPOSITIONS

Trial by jury was elected by a man charged with receiving a stereo system and camera equipment worth $5360 between November 28 and December 9, last year. Bernard Gerrard De Hair, aged 27, a carver (Mr G. N. Langham), was remanded on renewed bail to March 22 for the taking of deposi-

tions. INTIMIDATION CHARGES A retired teacher charged that with intent to intimidate he threatened to damage three houses on November 3, last year, was further remanded without plea to March 29. Interim suppression of the name of the defendant, aged 56, was continued. Counsel (Mr D. H. B. Dawson) said that treatment was being sought for the defendant before proceedings got under way. He said that there was a psychiatric background of a bizarre nature. The houses involved in the charges are in Roydvale Avenue, Rata Street, and Marine Parade. The remand was at large. DISORDERLY BEHAVIOUR Two students, both prefects, who admitted behaving in a disorderly manner at Lancaster Park during the England-New Zealand one-day match, were each instructed to carry out 20 hours of supervised work in the grounds of their school. Mark David Floyd and

Bevan O’Sullivan, both 17, and both represented by Mr M. J. French, were each discharged without conviction provided the work was carried out.

The Judge said both defendants had illustrated the inability of young people to handle excess consumption of liquor. Sergeant Creasey said that O’Sullivan had been seen throwing beer cans while Floyd had spat twice at an attendant in the grounds. Both defendants had been drinking. The Judge urged Floyd to write a letter of apology to the particular attendant Mr French said that both students were first offenders and unlikely to reappear. Both now regretted their behaviour. FRAUD CHARGES A debt collector facing three charges of fraud involving property worth $5730 and one of receiving a cheque book was remanded in custody to March 7. No pleas were entered by Maurice Winston Clark, aged 41, who is charged

with having committed the offences on February 3. The fraud charges involve stereos and video recorders, the property of Noel Leeming, Ltd, and cigarettes from Dingwall and Paulger, Ltd. EXTRA TERM Three months were added on to acurrent sentence of periodic detention being served by a man following his conviction on a charge of receiving three large cartons of cigarettes valued at $1876. Stewart Alexander John Hardwicke, aged 25, a storeman (Miss E. H. B. Thompson), admitted receiving the cigarettes, the property of Dingwall and Paulger, on February 21. Sergeant Creasey said that three large cartons of cigarettes were obtained from a city warehouse by a person using a stolen cheque. Later the same afternoon police visited the defendant’s address after a vehicle was seen, outside the address, from which cartons were taken inside.

The cigarettes were located under a manhole in the bathroom, said Sergeant Creasey. In explanation Hardwicke said he had agreed to help dispose of the cigarettes provided he “got a cut.” Miss Thompson said that her client received a wage of $155 a week of which $lll went to pay off a mortgage. It was the defendant’s financial situation which left him susceptible to temptations of the sort for which he was now in court. (Before Judge Jaine) CHARGES AMENDED Charges of assaulting a woman, aged 18, with intent to rape her and with indecently assaulting the woman, laid against Michael Douglas Dawson, aged 23, a cutter, were withdrawn by the police. Instead Dawson (Mr S. C. Barker) was charged with assaulting the woman in the early hours of January 15 to which he pleaded guilty. Sergeant L. J. Bruce said that in the early hours of January 15 the complainant and a friend went into the Cathedral Square to buy some takeaway food.

The pair were later offered a lift home by Dawson and an associate. One of the girls was dropped off at her address and the complainant was driven to a city hotel where she was staying. Before letting her out at the rear of the property the defendant, and the associate made somewhat aggressive amorous advances which the complainant resisted and struggled against. The girl suffered bruising and grazing as a result of being pushed out of the car, said Sergeant Bruce. Dawson also admitted unlawfully interfering with a motor-vehicle on February 15.

Sergeant Bruce said that the defendant was seen standing by a car in Oram Avenue. When police arrived Dawson was found crouched down beside the car. He quickly rolled over and pretended to be drunk. On the assault charge he was convicted and fined $2OO. On the unlawfully interfering offence he was fined $l5O and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for six months.