Man for sentence on P.O. robbery charge

Press, 14 December 1985, Page 4

Man for sentence on P.O. robbery charge

A former salesman admitted robbing a teller at the Thorrington Post Office of 5920, while armed with an imitation shotgun, to alleviate his serious debt Sroblem, said Sergeant W. . McCormick in the District Court yesterday. Donald Leslie Martin, aged 22 (Mr H. D. P. Van Schreven), a first offender, was convicted of the offence, which occurred on October 22, by Judge Fraser. He was committed in custody to the High Court for sentence on a date to be fixed.

Sergeant McCormick said that after losing his job as a salesman, the defendant found himself getting deeper in debt. In an effort to alleviate this problem he decided to hold up a post office.

He made an imitation sawn-off shotgun in his garage then wearing dark glasses went into the Thorrington Post Office and waited for other customers to leave.

Martin presented the “firearm” at a teller and passed over a note telling her it was a hold-up and to act naturally. The teller put

bundles of $lO and $2O notes into a plastic bag which was handed to the defendant. The bag contained $920. As a result of the actions of two schoolboys outside the post office, Martin was quickly apprehended by a police patrol, said Sergeant McCormick.

Martin, in the meantime, had changed the clothes he was wearing at the time of the robbery. On a charge of burglary, on which Martin had already been convicted, the Judge declined jurisdiction and also remanded him to the High Court for sentence. Initially the aggravated robbery charge was to have been the subject of a depositions hearing next month but Martin had decided to plead guilty, said Mr Van Schreven. TRAFFIC OFFENCE The driver of a car involved in a collision in Seaview Road on the night of September 21 suffered serious injuries which necessitated his spending 20 days in hospital and a long convalescent period at home, said Sergeant McCormick. As a result of the collision, Steven John Lewis,

aged 23, a meat worker, was convicted on charges of causing bodily injury to Geoffrey Wayne Hughes by carelessly using a car while under the influence of alcohol, and driving with an, excess blood-alcohol level.

Lewis (Mr M. J. Glue), who admitted the offences, was remanded at large to January 7 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant McCormick said that Lewis in explanation, claimed he had been temporarily inattentive while lighting a cigarette. Because of this his vehicle had crossed to the wrong side of the road and had collided with another vehicle, driven by Mr Hughes. Both vehicles were written off. Lewis, in hospital, was found to have a reading of 156 milligrams of alcohol to 100 millilitres of blood, said Sergeant McCormick. DEPOSITIONS March 3 was set as a new date for a depositions hear-. ing on a charge of rape laid against Lance William

Smith, aged 27, unemployed. Smith (Mr G. H. Nation) is charged with committing the offence on December 5.

Bail, which was opposed on the first appearance of the defendant, was sought by counsel. The application was heard in chambers.

Afterwards, Judge Fraser said he would allow the defendant bail of $6090 — self-bail of $2OOO with two sureties of the same amount.

Bail was allowed, he said, on the undertaking that the accused live with his father in Whangarei, and that he stay away from the complainant. Smith was also ordered to report daily to the police at Whangarei. PERIODIC DETENTION

Eight months periodic detention imposed on Judith Elizabeth Zilvinskas, aged 22, a solo mother, earlier convicted on three charges of burglary. Zilinskas (Mr T. M. Fournier), admitted burgling Willie Weavers shop at New Brighton, a house in Pros-

pect Place, and a flat in Worcester Street Property .valued at $9930 was stolen •from these premises. Mr Fournier said his client had been caught up in ■the criminal schemes of a dominant male co-offender who was to be dealt with on these and other matters in the High Court next week. ESCAPER Patrick James Harrison, aged 30, unemployed, •charged with escaping from the custody of a constable at the District Court on Thursday, was remanded in custody to December 17. He did not plead. CREDIT CARD An Auckland man facing .five charges of fraudulently msing an American Express card to obtain a rental car, and $1227 worth of liquor, was remanded in custody until Tuesday. ~ Garth Muir Doull, aged 38, is charged with committing all five offences in Christchurch on December 10. No application for bail was made.