Man fraudulently got vehicles worth $93,550

Press, 18 June 1986, Page 4

Man fraudulently got vehicles worth $93,550

A man who fraudulently obtained vehicles to a total value of $93,550 between September, last year, and March, this year, was sentenced to periodic detention for eight months by Judge Paterson in the District Court yesterday. Roydon Blair Granger, aged 34 (Mr E. Bedo) had earlier admitted . the fraudulent purchase of eight vehicles. According to the police, in June, last year, a cheque book was stolen from a car.

Between September and December, last year, Granger used the cheques to buy vehicles from the various complainants in Levin, Dunedin, Ashburton, and Christchurch. He was apprehended on March 18, this year, while attempting to sell one of the vehicles. While most of the vehicles were recovered in good condition, $54,000 was sought in compensation for some of the complainants. The defendant had been co-operative and had

assisted the police in their inquiries. The Judge said he accepted that the defendant had the ability to repay the claimants the $54,000 sought in reparation.

As he was unable to make a reparation order the Judge said the matter would, be left for remedy in the civil court.

Imprisonment was not appropriate. It could even be counter-productive and expensive for the community, he said. On an additional charge of falsifying an income tax return, Granger was convicted and fined $250. Mr Bedo said no reparation report was available because of a number of conflicting interests.

He said his client had already raised $25,000, without realising all his assets, which would be available for disbursement to the various complainants.

He said it seemed more than likely that when the rest of his assets were realised all the aggrieved

parties would be paid. If ever there was a case where the complainants could be left to pursue their civil remedies, this was it, said Mr Bedo. Mr Bedo said his client had foolishly committed the offences when he was at his “wit’s end.” He urged a sentence of periodic detention. NINE BURGLARIES Property to a total value of $11,154 was taken from nine business premises burgled in the north-west area of Christchurch by Richard Gordon Dodds and an associate, said Sergeant McCormick. Dodds, aged 19, unemployed (Mr G. R. Lascelles) was convicted and remanded in custody to July 3 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant McCormick said all the burglaries were committed overnight Taken was cash, cigarettes, electronic items and car accessories. A vehicle, worth $l3OO, taken unlawfully by the defendant and his associate, was later found abandoned after having been used to transport the stolen property; Dodds told police he committed the offences, between May 13 and June 5, in order to pay off his car. Damage to the various properties entered was $2834. Compensation of $4091 was sought as the defendant’s share, said Sergeant McCormick. Mr Lascelles said he was instructed to apply for bail but this was refused by the Jiidge “because of the magnitude of the offending.” STOLE TOOIS Hardware and tools, valued at about $4OOO, were stolen by Ross Andrew Clark from his employer because, he told police, he wanted to build up his assets, said Sergeant McCormick. Clark, aged 22, a sales-

man, admitted stealing the property, which belonged to Smiths City Market, between March 1 and June 16. He was convicted and remanded oh bail to July 1 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant.. McCormick said at at 5.30 p.m. on June 16 the defendant was approached by management as he was leaving a bulk store. Found in his possession were items of hardware, worth $l3O, which he had stolen that day. Clark admitted having stolen other items in the preceding three months. All the stolen property was recovered at his address, said Sergeant McCormick. Clark, in telling police he wanted to build up his personal assets, said others had been doing the same. BURGLARIES ADMITTED Bail was not opposed for a man convicted of committing two burglaries in which property worth almost $ll,OOO was stolen. Walter Alexander Tapp, aged 17, unemployed (Ms D. E. Shirtcliff), who admitted the offences, was convicted and remanded on bail to July 1 for a probation report and sentence. From a house in Stapletons Road, Christchurch, the defendant took a microwave oven, a colour television and camera equipment, valued at $lO,OOO, said Sergeant McCormick. A guitar and an ornament valued at $7OO, were stolen by Tapp from a church in Invercargill where he had been undergoing counselling, he said. The defendant was also convicted on a parole breach at Invercargill. Compensation of $6BO was sought in respect of the unrecovered stolen property. .

THEFT CHARGES A solo mother facing three charges of theft was allowed bail of $4OO, but warned by the Judge that, notwithstanding her young child, any further offending would result in her being held in custody while on remand. Paula Olivia Noble, aged 20, was remanded, without plea, to June 24. She was ordered to report twice weekly to the police. She is charged with stealing a handbag, and contents, valued at $563, on June 10, and with the theft of clothing, valued at $B7, from two city stores, the next day. BURGLARY CHARGE Henry John Lafutu, aged 27, a gardener, charged with burgling a Hereford Street flat late on Monday afternoon was remanded, without plea, to June 24. • Lafutu was allowed bail of $5OO and ordered to report daily to the police. The charge relates to an incident in which the female occupant of a Hereford Street flat, a member of . the public, and a police dog, combined to apprehend a man found hiding under a bush in a Linwood park. About $2OOO worth of stolen property was recovered. COMMUNITY SERVICE A housekeeper convicted earlier of possessing heroin, and needles and syringes, was sentenced to 40 hours of community service. Nicola Helen Taylor, aged 20 (Mr M. J. Knowles), committed the offences on April 30. The syringes and needles, and tinfoilwrapped heroin were found by police during a search of the defendant’s address. PERIODIC DETENTION Periodic detention for three months, to be served with an existing term, was the sentence given to Shane Thomas Pemberton who had been convicted of stealing a $30,000 car, and breaking and entering a shoe shop in Ferry Road. Pemberton, aged 19, a process worker (Mr A. M. Mclntosh) had admitted the offences. He also used the stolen car to drive to the Ferry Road premises of Footprints Footwear, which he burgled. The car, taken from Hereford Street,, had, with the aid of a friend, been partially stripped by Pemberton. All the property removed from the car had been recovered. In addition to periodic detention, the Judge placed Pemberton on supervision for six months, disqualified him from holding or obtaining a driver’s, licence for the same period, and an order was made for the payment of $75 compensation in respect of a broken window.