Sex offences admitted

Press, 25 May 1985, Page 5

Sex offences admitted

Details relating to indecencies on several young girls by a man, aged 21. were not read in open court on the application of Sergeant G. C. Jones to Judge Fogarty in the District Court yesterday. Wayne Michael Charneley, unemployed (Mr E. T. Higgins), admitted having sexual intercourse with a girl, aged seven, indecently assaulting a girl, aged five, and another, aged nine; doing an indecent act on a girl, aged seven, and inducing a girl, aged seven, to do an indecent act on him.

These offences took place between March 1 and April 8, said Sergeant Jones. Charnley also admitted 17 charges of fraud by which he obtained goods and services valued at $lOB3. Sergeant Jones said that last October the defendant opened a cheque account with a deposit of $4O. He was issued with a 30-form cheque book and a Cashflow card. In February Charnley contacted the bank to say the cheque book and the card had been stolen.

He then negotiated 17 cheques between Christchurch and Dunedin to obtain mainly food, petrol, and

some car accessories, said Sergeant Jones. Compensation of $lOB3 was sought. Charnley told police that by reporting the alleged theft he thought someone else would get the blame, said Sergeant Jones. On all charges Charnley was convicted and remanded in custody to May 31 for a probation report and sentence. An application for bail by Mr Higgins to enable his client to put his affairs in order, was refused. FRAUD CHARGES A woman facing a charge of fraudulently using a cheque, made out for $4631, last July, for the purpose of obtaining a financial advantage, was remanded on renewed bail to June 14. Marie Ann Bruce, aged 28, a sales representative (Mr S. C. Barker), faced 13 new fraud charges involving property, worth $3654, yesterday. These were allegedly committed in Dunedin on

September 28. last year. Bruce did not plead to the charges. CUSTODY REMAND A psychiatric report is to be obtained on a man facing charges of intentional damage, theft, assault with intent to escape from the scene of the alleged theft, and robbing a man of $520 cash. Andrew Vermeeren, aged 24, unemployed, of Dunedin (Mrs D. M. Orchard), is charged with having committed the offences on May 22. He was remanded in custody to Sunnyside Hospital until June 7. When he first appeared on these charges on Thursday, Vermeeren was remanded in custody overnight to enable a police doctor to examine him. Mrs Orchard said the doctor’s recommendation was that her client should undergo a psychiatric assessment. COPPER WIRE CHARGE Tahe Watene Tahuaro, unemployed, was remanded in custody to June 7 on a charge of receiving scrap copper wire, valued at $1047, on May 23. Tahuaro also faces a charge of driving while disqualified, the same day. No pleas were entered. Bail was opposed by the police. 29 OFFENCES Property to a total value of $7096 was fraudulently’ obtained by a woman who admitted 29 offences including receiving, theft, and 26 of fraud.

Leanda Jane Brewer, aged 21, a beneficiary (Mr C. A. Ruane), used two stolen cheque books in the commission of the offences between February and April.

She was convicted and remanded on renewed bail to June 14 for a probation report and sentence. Only a small amount of the property obtained had been recovered and the matter of compensation sought was to be left to the sentence date, said Sergeant Jones. In explanation, Brewer, a solo mother, told police she was unable to survive on the benefit. DENIALS Charges of assaulting a man with intent to injure him and possession of an offensive weapon — a knife — were denied by Dean Noble, aged 17, unemployed (Mrs D. M. Orchard). The charges relate to an incident involving an axe in Cathedral Square on May 10. Noble was remanded to June 19 for a defended hearing. The defendant had been previously remanded in custody “in the public interest.” Yesterday Mrs Orchard said that bail of $2OOO had been granted her client in the High Court. In addition, she said, Noble was ordered to report to the police three times a week and not to associate with members of the Mongrel Mob.