Glue-sniffer took car for test drive

Press, 19 February 1986, Page 4

Glue-sniffer took car for test drive

A glue-sniffer who took a $5OOO car for a test drive and did not return it and then gave his brother’s name to the police when apprehended was given a deferred sentence by Mr Justice Holland in the High Court yesterday. Michael Mace, aged 17, unemployed, had pleaded guilty in the District Court to a charge of attempting to defeat the course of justice. He was ordered to come up for sentence within 12 months if called upon.

Mr B. M. Stanaway appeared for the Crown. The police statement said that at 12.30 p.m. on November 21 Mace went to John Poelman Motors, Ltd, 55 Riccarton Road, and obtained a 1976 Cortina for a test drive.

When Mace had not returned with the car by 2 p.m. the police were

advised. At 12.15 a.m. on November 22 Mace was stopped by a traffic officer and when the police were called he gave his brother’s name and was charged under that name. He appeared in court and was remanded, but failed to appear on the date which was fixed. A warrant was issued for his arrest An attempt was made to arrest Mace’s brother. The correct picture then emerged. Mace had told the police that he had bought the car a few days before but then admitted that he had taken it for a drive and had had an accident soon after leaving the car yard. He did not know what to do arid decided to drive it for a while and then abandon it.

As he was a disqualified driver, Mace said that he had given the police his

brother’s name in the heat of the moment, because he was “stoned” and was not thinking straight. He had previous convictions, . the police statement said. For Mace, Mr A. N. D. Garrett said that bis client had served a brief period of corrective training which was imposed on other charges in the District Court He had been released on February 5. He had been described as a model prisoner. His offending had resulted from inhaling a variety of substances which distorted his perception of reality. Mace was now in a better mental state than he had been for some time. A com-munity-based sentence would be appropriate, Mr Garrett submitted. Mr Justice Holland said that counsel had told him that Mace had learnt his lesson with the short

period of corrective training. It was not uncommon to attempt to defeat the course of justice, by giving a false name, by young offenders like Mace, who had been disqualified from driving, were addicted to drugs of some kind or other, who ignored periods when they were disqualified from driving, and then finished up in jail. He hoped Mace had sufficient intelligence to ■ realise that he was on a downward path which could lead to his spending the greater part of his life in prison. Mace had to overcome his own prob- ' lems. There were persons . willing to help him.

If Mace did not offend in the next 12 months the > offence would be forgotten but if he did he would be brought before the ' Court and he would probably be imprisoned, his Honour said.