Bottle-throwers jailed

Press, 14 March 1984, Page 20

Bottle-throwers jailed

PA Wellington Two men who broke into a hospital dispensary and bombarded the police with bottles were each jailed for 2¥z years by Judge Kerr in the District Court at Wellington. Anthony James Ranga, aged 35, and Allen Brian Tennent, aged 32, both unemployed, had each pleaded

guilty to burglary. The Judge said that late last year the two men broke into Wellington’s Calvary Hospital by climbing over the roof and through an unsecured window. They gained entry to the dispensary by jemmying a cupboard leading to the dispensary. When the police called

they were met by a bombardment of various items the men had found in the dispensary. The two proceeded to wreck the contents of the dispensary. The police estimated it would cost $l4OO to put right the damage. The Judge said it was a premeditated burglary by two professional burglars. Both men had deplorable

histories. It had been well understood for many years that anyone breaking into pharmacies and hospital surgeries in search of drugs would serve substantial prison terms. Ranga, he said, would be able to receive treatment for his drug addiction while in custody, if motivated to do something about it.