Stolen launch abandoned

Press, 12 August 1986, Page 4

Stolen launch abandoned

A man who unlawfully took a $40,000, 30ft launch at Mangonui in February intending to sail it to Australia later abandoned it on Ninety Mile Beach, said Sergeant W. P. Creasey in the District Court yesterday. He said repairs to the abandoned launch, which was not insured, would cost the owner $15,000. Michael Charles Sant, aged 21 (Mr A. M. Mclntosh), also admitted unlawfully taking a mini van at Thames, a dinghy at Ma ngonui, and six charges of fraudulently using stolen cheques. He was convicted by Judge Frampton and remanded to August 25 for a probation report and sentence.

Sergeant Creasey said Sant, and two companions, hitch-hiked from Tauranga to Thames, where they converted the mini van.

This vehicle was used to get them to Mangonui, where a dinghy was unlawfully taken to reach the 30ft launch in the harbour.

Initially, the three were not able to start the launch, and a battery re-

moved from the mini van was used.

Once under way, it was decided to beach the launch on the Ninety-Mile Beach.

It was found abandoned two days later. Cheques taken from the converted mini van were used by Sant to purchase fuel and services.

Compensation of $lB,OOO was sought from the defendant, said Sergeant Creasey. Sant told police he had to get out of Tauranga because of threats made against him. He said it had been his intention to sail to Australia in the converted launch.

Mr Mclntosh said his client had no idea what the repairs to the launch involved, and he asked for a reparation report.

Heather John Christieson, aged 20, unemployed, who admitted her part in the three unlawful takings, was convicted and remanded on bail to August 21 for a probation report and sentence. She told police she left Tauranga with her boyfriend whose life had been threatened.

BURGLARY OFFENCES Property worth $15,994 was stolen from four residential properties burgled by John Daniels, and three associates, said Sergeant Creasey. Daniels, aged 20, unemployed (Mr A. James), admitted the offences which occurred between May 21 and 29.

He was convicted and remanded on renewed bail to August 25 for a probation report and sentence.

Taken in the burglaries were videos, television sets, jewellery, and assorted household effects.

Compensation of $6600 was sought Some of the stolen property was recovered at the defendant’s address, and in his vehicle.

ASSAULTED WOMAN A man who tried to strangle a woman, kicked her in the back, dragged her along a Lyttelton street by her hair and arms, and then sat on her, could not remember anything about it later, said Sergeant Creasey. Alan Joseph Morrison, aged 25, a seaman (Mr N, J. Dunlop), committed the offence on January 3.

He was convicted and remanded, on bail, to August 22 for a probation report and sentence. The offending occurred on Norwich Quay after a party attended by both the defendant, and the complainant, who were known to each other, said Sergeant Creasey.

Morrison admitted he had earlier been drinking.

PERIODIC DETENTION Periodic detention for five months was given to two men earlier convicted of breaking into a science block at Cashmere High School, from which laboratory equipment, valued at $6OO, was stolen.

< In addition, Robert Malcolm Price, aged 29, and Bruce Steven Rowlands, aged 25, both unemployed (Mr S. C. Barker), were each put on probation for 12 months, and ordered to pay $3O each in compensation.

The men were caught in possession of the stolen items.

A third man, who denied the burglary charge, was earlier remanded on bail for a defended hearing next month.