Ease of cashing 23 bad cheques criticised

Press, 6 March 1985, Page 4

Ease of cashing 23 bad cheques criticised

Criticism of the ease with which a man cashed at a bank 23 stolen cheques, to a total value of almost $3OOO from an account closed four or five years ago, was made by Mr W. Rosenberg in the District Court yesterday. Mr Rosenberg said" the particular bank, the Commercial Bank of Australia, had itself gone out the existence 18 months ago.

He was appearing on behalf of Nathan Earle Schriek who appeared for sentence before Judge Bisphan on 23 charges of using a document to obtain a financial advantage. Schriek, aged 18, unemployed had admitted stealing the cheque book from his father and after using a facsimile signature on the cheques, obtained $8976 which he then paid into his own account. When arrested Schriek had $llO7 in his possession and compensation of $6151 was sought.

Schriek was sentence to periodic detention for four months and put on probation for 12 months.

A special condition was that he undergo psychiatric

or psychological counselling as directed.

The Judge said that because the defendant was unemployed he would make no specific order for compensation but ordered that a car, bought with the stolen money, be sold and the proceeds be used towards payment of compensation. He said he left the banks to pursue the balance in a civil jurisdiction. Mr Rosenberg said his client deeply regretted the offending and was prepared to sell his car, and a motorcycle to help pay compensation. JURY Trial by jury was sought by a man facing charges of demanding, with menaces, $l2OO from another man, and threatening to kill a woman. Peter John Regan, aged 24, a fish splitter (Miss E. H. B. Thompson), was remanded to May 22 for the taking of depositions. On charges of stealing a $950 TV set, and intentionally damaging a window, to which he pleaded not guilty, Regan was remanded to June 11 for a defended

hearing. Bail was granted “reluctantly” by the Judge. This was set at $3OOO. Bail was opposed by Detective Sergeant B. M. Roswell and opposition was also conveyed in a telegram from Wellington by the father of a complainant. MORPHINE CHARGE Two men jointly charged with manufacturing morphine were remanded in custody to March 12. No pleas were entered by Arthur Francis Michael Jones, aged 33, or Anthony Charles Lloyd, aged 31, both unemployed. Counsel for Jones (Mr S. C. Barker), and Lloyd (Mr A. N. D. Garrett) both indicated that applications for bail would be sought in the High Court. Police say the offence took place on March 4. HAMS A bricklayer who fraudently obtained 16 hams before Christmas by charging them to two organisations was remanded to March 12 on bail. Douglas William Weir, aged 23, is charged with fraudently obtaining 10

hams, valued at $497, from one butcher by charging them to the Ferrymead Military Society, and obtaining six hams, valued at $242, from another butcher by charging them to the Canterbury Greyhound Owners, Breeders and Trainers’ Association. He did not plead to the charges. PERIODIC DETENTION Four months periodic detention was the sentence given to a man, who stole a cattle beast, worth $560, which he tried to sell in order to pay off debts. Counsel (Mr M. J. Glue), said Vaughan Stuart Thomas committed the offence because of his desperate financial circumstances. As a result of the offence he lost his job. Mr Glue said Thomas, a willing worker, had now got another job.

He asked that he be left in the community and that the matter be dealt with by way of a fine.

Thomas earlier admitted stealing the carcase, the property of his employer, Habgoods, on January 22. Half the carcase was sold to a butcher for $234.