Compensation sought for benefits fraud

Press, 27 April 1984, Page 7

Compensation sought for benefits fraud

Compensation of $22,084 is sought from a woman who fraudulently obtained that sum from the Social Welfare Department in domestic purposes and sickness benefits for almost three years, said Sergeant C. J. Shannahan in the District Court yesterday. Sheryl Louise Patterson, aged 30, a solo mother (Mr M. J. Glue), admitted misleading the department byfailing to notify it of changes in her circumstances so that she could receive the benefits between April, 1981, and February, this year. She was convicted on the three charges by Judge Bradford and remanded on bail to May 10 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant Shannahan said that Patterson was granted a domestic purposes benefit in 1978 because she was supporting three children. This benefit was paid until February 24, this year. Between August, 1981, and February, Patterson was employed by two separate firms, which made her ineligible for the benefit. Patterson used a false name on one of her jobs. She later obtained a sickness benefit when the second job ended. In explanation, Patterson, who gave herself up to the police, said that because of her health, she had been unable to survive on the domestic purposes benefit, said Sergeant Shannahan. When she failed to appear in court previously on these charges, a bench warrant was issued for Patterson’s arrest. PHARMACIES BURGLARY A man who burgled a pharmacy at Waimate from which cocaine, morphine, opium and pethidine were stolen, told the police he committed the offence because he needed money to pay about $650 in fines, said Sergeant Shannahan. John Peter Fearon, aged 23, unemployed (Mr E. Bedo), also admitted, and was convicted of, three other pharmacy burglaries, two in Christchurch and one in Timaru, and two charges of driving while disqualified. He was remanded in custody to May 3 for a probation report and sentence. Fearon burgled the Waimate pharmacy on February 21, the Timaru pharmacy on February 4, the Casebrook pharmacy on

January 30. and the Wairakei Road pharmacyon March 17. Damage estimated at more than $l5OO was caused during the break-ins, for which compensation was sought, said Sergeant Shannahan. Drugs with a street value of more than $l5OO were stolen from the drug cabinets of the four pharmacies, he said. $6OOO BAIL Bail was set at $6OOO for a man charged with breaking and entering the Stanmore Road supermarket on April 16, and a charge of dangerous driving on the same day. Maurice Winston Clark, aged 41, a dog trainer (Mr K. J. Grave), denied the charges. He was remanded to June 15 for a defended hearing. Clark was formerly held in custody. PROBATION One of two Canterburymen convicted of 10 burglaries and one charge of converting a $lO,OOO vehicle, all committed on the West Coast, was sentenced to probation for 12 months, ordered to live and work where directed, and to pay $605 in compensation. Alvan Mark Gilbert, aged 18, unemployed, of Cust, was also disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for nine months. His co-offender, Martin Hassall, aged 18, unemployed, of Rangiora, was further remanded for sentence on May 17. The pair were earlier convicted on the charges in the District Court at Greymouth. The defendants hao travelled from Cust to Otago looking for work, and the offending, committed in West Coast resort areas, started when they ran out of money. In explanation, the two defendants said that they only broke in to obtain food because they were hungry and had no money. Property damage amounted to $l2OO. THEFT CHARGE Philip George Coull, aged 34, unemployed, was remanded at large to May 10 on a charge of stealing $lO5 in cash, the property of lu Puaavase. Coull did not plead. SUPPRESSION Interim suppression of

her name was granted to a young woman charged with the theft of a portable radio, a pair of handcuffs, a wooden baton, and a code book, to a total value of $2052. the property of the police. The defendant, unemployed, is also charged with stealing a bag. a mini-dicta-phone, a jerey, a brush, a pair of gloves and a map book, to a total value of $233. the property of Trevor John Saunders. She did not plead to either offence, said by the police to have occurred on April 22. A duty solicitor (Mr J. J. Brandts-Giesen) sought the interim suppression because of the effect of any publicityon the occupation of the defendant’s father. The woman, a first offender, was remanded to May 3 on bail of $2OOO. Sergeant Shannahan said a further 15 charges are to be laid against the defendant. BOOKMAKING CHARGE A man, aged 77, charged with carrying on the business of a bookmaker, was remanded to May 10 when, said counsel, Mr D. C. Fitzgibbon, a plea would be entered. George Thomas Howell, a pensioner, is charged with committing the offence on