Man coerced to commit offences to keep job

Press, 5 December 1985, Page 6

Man coerced to commit offences to keep job

PA Auckland A District Court judge described, as shocking a situation in which a young man was coerced into committing offences to keep his job as a contract driver. Michael David Waugh, aged 27, of Te Awamutu, was sentenced by Judge Robinson in Auckland District Court to 70 hours community service. The Court had heard that Waugh was employed as a contractor driver by North/ South Transport The delivery and pickup point was TNT Transport, Ltd, Panmure.

Large-scale thefts were carried out by a small group of employees who used contract drivers to smuggle stolen goods out of the TNT terminal, the Court was told. Drivers who refused to cooperate, or who did not supply the group with perks, were not given work. About August 20 a supervisor at the terminal gave Waugh four jackets each worth $9B retail. He was told to put them in the cab of his truck and, as he left the terminal, to stop opposite the door of a locker room.

An associate of the supervisor removed two jackets.

Waugh kept one and gave another to a friend.

The same supervisor also offered Waugh two rolls of high-pile carpet for $5OO a roll, the Court was told. The retail price was $5300 a roll. Waugh accepted the offer. About September 2 the supervisor handed Waugh three boxes. He was asked to take them in his truck and told they would be collected outside the terminal.

A short distance from the

terminal the supervisor’s associate took the cartons. He opened one and gave Waugh two car radios valued at $258 each. The police had recovered all items received by Waugh. The Judge said he was satisfied a sentence of community service was appropriate , as the defendent had not been in trouble before. He also took note ,of the situation in which Waugh had found himself