The courts Youth faces charges on birthday

Press, 9 January 1986, Page 8

The courts Youth faces charges on birthday

Eighteen-year-old Duane Samuel Wright, unemployed, yesterday had a birthday he would rather forget — he appeared in the District Court facing 22 charges.

Wright admitted all the offences, which included seven of unlawfully taking motor vehicles, six of driving while disqualified, seven of theft, and two of breaking and entering. Sergeant Myron Cauldwell said Wright had told police he took other people’s cars because the police knew he was disqualified, and would have recognised his own car if he had used it.

Sergeant Cauldwell told the Court that Wright had broken into the Oxford Area School on December 2, done $lOO worth of damage and taken items valued at $l4OO. On the same day, he had broken into the Oxford Rugby Clubrooms, caused $l2B worth of damage and taken gear worth $1948. Judge Pain remanded Wright in custody for a week for sentencing.

TABLETS GRABBED A 22-year-old Christchurch man, unable to get medication for his epilepsy condition while on holiday in Greymouth, forced entry

to a chemist shop and took 2500 valium tablets the Court was told.

Gavin Tony Hardaker, a sickness beneficiary, admitted breaking into the Greymouth Pharmacy in Tainui Street, Greymouth, on January 2 and taking the tablets. He was convicted and remanded on bail until January 22. The Court was told Hardtaker had unsuccessfully sought treatment from the emergency doctor in Greymouth but was refused the prescription drug he wanted.

In frustration he had kicked in the door of the pharmacy and grabbed the tablets hoping that the ones he wanted would be among them.

INFLUENCE OF DRUGS A Christchurch man who stole money from a woman and robbed a man of cash and tablets, had little recollection of the offences because he was under the influence of drugs at the time, the Court heard. Clinton Joseph Tonihi, aged 23, an unemployed labourer, admitted stealing $l7O cash from Antionette Huia Thompson, and robbing Zane Peter Roderick of $lO cash, 30 valium tablets

and 15 capsules of Deloxene on New Year’s Eve. Tonihi had a previous High Court conviction for aggravated robbery. Judge Pain called for a pre-sentence report and remanded Tonihi in custody until January 15. NO PLEA A man and two women charged after a brawl at a party in Papanui on Saturday, were remanded without plea yesterday. Johannus Keriti Roes, aged 26, unemployed, of Dunedin, was charged with intentionally damaging a police van, and with assaulting Alan David Manco. Moana Katrina Shepherd, aged 23, housewife, of Christchurch, was charged with disorderly behaviour likely to cause violence against a person, and with resisting Constable Peter Trevor Collins, in the execution of his duty. Waiana Suzanne Kotara, aged 21, unemployed of Christchurch, was charged with assaulting Constable Collins. All three were remanded until January 21. EXPOSURE A man who obscenely exposed himself to a woman in the Canterbury Public Library was told by Judge Pain that a short prison

term would achieve nothing for him.

Daniel Andre Ambrose Akula, aged 33, a sickness beneficiary, was appearing for sentence after previously admitting the offence. The Court heard that Akula had a long list of similar offences, and had had several prison sentences imposed on him. “The maximum I could give you for this offence would be three months imprisonment,” said Judge Pain. “In my view, a short term would achieve nothing for you.” Judge Pain imposed a 12month supervision order on Akula, and instructed him to undertake treatment and counselling as directed. ASSAULT Intoxication was the excuse given by a Christchurch man for assaulting a police constable in Cathedral Square in the early hours of New Year’s Day. Stanley lopo Finiki, aged 20, unemployed, admitted charges of assaulting a constable and obstructing a constable. He was fine $l5O and ordered to pay court costs of $45. ROBBERY CHARGE

A young man charged with armed robbery in Cathedral Square on Tues-

day evening was remanded in custody until January 15. Richard Patrick Pirimona, aged 22, a woodcarver, entered no plea to the charge that he robbed David John Brooking of $2.20, and a watch valued at $lO, while armed with a knife. Bail was refused by Judge Pain. Legal aid was. granted. Sergeant Myron Cauldwell said the watch had been returned shortly after it had been taken but the money was found on Pirimona. The Court was told the defendant had numerous previous convictions, including an 18-month prison sentence for aggravated robbery in 1984. FURTHER CHARGE

A 66-year-old Australian man facing four charges of indecent acts with boys faced a further charge of unlawfully being in New Zealand when he appeared in Court yesterday. Henry William John Pep-per-Clayton pleaded guilty, and was remanded in custody by Judge Pain until January 14, when he is also due to appear for sentencing on the indecency charges. He admitted those offences when he appeared on Monday.