Woman admits cheque frauds

Press, 1 May 1984, Page 6

Woman admits cheque frauds

A woman who admitted fraudulently using stolen cheques on 78 occasions to obtain property to a total value of $6650, told the police that she committed the offences to finance her de facto partner’s drug habit as there had been “pressure” to pay off drug debts, said Sergeant M. P. Caldwell in the District Court yesterday. Susan Mary Birkbeck, aged 22, a machinist (Mr E.

Bedo), was convicted by Judge Hattaway and remanded on bail of $2OOO to May 14 for a probation report and sentence. Birkbeck committed the offences in Christchurch between December, last year, and March. With the use of the stolen cheques she had obtained clothing, liquor, groceries, petrol, paint, shoes, and car parts. She told the police that she had not been involved in the original offences whereby the cheque books were obtained. The cheques had come into her possession from friends and her de facto partner. Birkbeck asserted that she had used some of the cheques to finance her de facto partners drug habit as there had been “pressure” to pay off drug debts, said Sergeant Caldwell. Mr Bedo sought bail for his client who was a first offender. A surety was available, he said. TRAFFIC CHARGES Bail was opposed for a man involved in a highspeed chase in which a police car was rammed early yesterday. Anthony William Whiting, aged 22, unemployed, was remanded in custody to May 7. He is charged with unlawfully taking a $l2OO car,

driving while disqualified, reckless driving, unlawfully possessing numchukkas in circumstances which showed an intention to use them to commit an offence involving bodily injury, and with failing to stop fqr a police officer. Opposing bail Sergeant Caldwell said that if persons were prepared to indulge in high speed chases in converted vehicles, in order to evade police officers then in the public interest they should not be granted bail. Damage to the car, driven by the defendant, was $5OO. The estimate of damage done to the police vehicle had not yet been ascertained, he said. ARSON CHARGE A plea of not guilty would be entered by an unemployed youth charged with wilfully setting fire to a railway waggon, said a duty solicitor (Mr M. J. Glue). Russell Wayne Wakefield, aged 17, was remanded on bail to May 7 without pleading. He is charged with setting fire to the waggon, the property of the Railways Corporation, on April 25. HIGH COURT Jurisdiction was declined by the Judge for a man who admitted importing a cannabis preparation into New Zealand on April 19. Pav Cosmatos, aged 22, a

chef (Mr G. E. Langham), was convicted and committed in custody to the High Court for sentence on a date to be fixed. DRUG OFFENCES Cannabis material seized at the address of Rhys Ivor Morgan weighed 243 grams, said Sergeant Caldwell. Morgan, aged 23, a welder (Mr P. R. Kellar), was convicted after admitting charges of possessing a cannabis preparation, and possessing cannabis leaf for sale or supply on April 16. He was remanded at large to May 14 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant Caldwell said that when the police executed a search warrant at' the defendant’s address they found three capsules of a cannabis preparation in addition to cannabis leaf material. Morgan, who told the police he had already sold three one ounce bags of cannabis material for $3OO, said that he did not normally sell cannabis but had done so for friends and because he was short of money. CUSTODY On charges of breaking into the Colombo Street premises of the Christchurch South Veterinary Clinic, and with possessing cannabis leaf, John Edward

James Luff was remanded in custody to May 7. Luff, aged 23, is charged with committing the offences on April 30. Bail was opposed by Sergeant Caldwell who said the defendant, a known drug user, had broken into the veterinary clinic to obtain drugs. Luff did not plead to the charges.

PERIODIC DETENTION Periodic detention for seven months was the sentence imposed on a man earlier convicted on six offences including two of receiving firearms, two of possessing them without a permit, one charge of theft, and another of possessing cannabis.

William David Bryenton, aged 20, an amusement operator (Mr P. N. Dyhrberg), who admitted the offences, was also given a deferred six-months sentence on some of the charges.

The offences involved the theft of a $lOOO radio telephone, the property of the Christchurch Transport Board, receiving a .223 rifle, valued at $1365, and a .22 rifle, valued at $312, the property of Gun City, possessing both weapons without a permit, and possessing cannabis. All the property was recovered.