Undercover man ‘bought’ stolen videos, Court told

Press, 26 October 1984, Page 26

Undercover man ‘bought’ stolen videos, Court told

Two days after four video recorders worth $6971 were taken in a burglary of Smith’s City Market, Ltd, in September last year, Nicholas Patrick Brown helped load three of them into the car of an undercover constable who had just “purchased” them during his role of investigating criminal activities. The District Court heard this yesterday when Brown, aged 23, unemployed, Mr K. J. Grave, pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving the four video recorders, on or about September 6 last year, when he knew they had been stolen. He had earlier denied the offence but changed his plea to guilty yesterday. Judge Fraser convicted him and remanded him on bail to November 2 for a probation report and sentence.

Sergeant M. P. Caldwell said that an undercover constable became aware that the defendant was involved in receiving stolen property. On September 8 last year he went to a house to purchase four video recorders and found that three were available; one already had been sold.

The defendant assisted another person to load the recorders into the boot of the undercover constable’s car. The recorders were found to have been stolen in a burglary of Smith’s City Market, Ltd, early on September 6. When questioned the defendant admitted having held the recorders for another person until they were required. He had sold one for 5300. He asserted not to have received any money except a portion of the money for the recorder he sold.

Sergeant Caldwell said restitution was not sought as the burglars involved were before the Court and restitution would be claimed from them. DRUG CHARGES A solo mother was convicted of a drug offence arising from the police finding a large quantity of cannabis at her premises, but in a room occupied by a man who shared the premises with her at the time.

The Judge convicted Dianne Mary Carrodus, aged 21, on a charge of knowingly permitting her premises to be used for the commission of an offence under the misuse of Drugs Act, selling cannabis, on June 28. She had denied this offence, . but admitted a charge of possessing cannabis. On each charge she was fined ?100. Sergeant Caldwell prosecuted and Mr E. Bedo appeared for the defendant. Both offences occurred on June 28.

Evidence was that the police found a large quantity of cannabis in the room occupied at the time by the defendant’s flatmate. The defendant said in evidence that she had no knowledge of the cannabis in the house, until her flatmate told her when the police arrived at the house.

After hearing all evidence the Judge said he did not believe the defendant’s denial of knowledge of the cannabis. The inference was that she knowingly allowed her flatmate to sell cannabis from the house.