Prison after 14 previous convictions for burglary

Press, 15 October 1986, Page 4

Prison after 14 previous convictions for burglary

A man who had 14 previous convictions for burglary was sept to prison for 18 months when he appeared for sentence before Judge Sheehan in the District Court yesterday. The offences for which Dean Andrew Gray was for sentence took place only five weeks after he was released from prison, said the Judge. It was also clear, he said, that all the defendant’s offending was druginspired. Any sentence short of imprisonment would be inappropriate and inadequate, said the Judge. Gray, aged 23, unemployed (Mr P. B. McMenamin), had earlier been convicted of burgling a flat in Thackeray Place, from which property, worth $5779, was stolen, attempting to break into the Nursery Road premises of Dori Mattingly Motors, Ltd, and unlawfully disguising his face by night. The offences took place between September 10 and 30. No order was made by the Court for the payment of $2890 sought in compensation from Gray.

The defendant was despondent at once again

facing the inevitability of a prison sentence, said Mr McMenamin. Gray’s pattern- of offending since 1982, which showed five previous terms of imprisonment, made gloomy reading. Mr McMenamin said Gray had a propensity to be easily led into offending. ONE YEAR’S JAIL Imprisonment was the only realistic sentence for the court to impose, the Judge told Reuben Patrick Theodore. Theodore, aged 19, a labourer (Mr M. J. Knowles), was sent to prison for 12 months. This was to be cumulative with the term he is serving at present. Theodore had earlier been convicted of burgling the Old Star Tavern in Lincoln Road, on September 28, and possession of a knife capable of being used to commit burglary. For Theodore, Mr Knowles said the alcoholinduced burglary had been inept. His client was apprehended at the scene and no violence was offered. The comment made that the burglary had been carried out on the orders of the Mongrel Mob was incorrect, said Mr Knowles.

It was made not by Theodore, but by his cooffender. The explanation was not true, but rather a flippant remark, said Mr Knowles.

The burglary had been quite spontaneous and alcohol had contributed, he said.

The co-offender, Thomas Wiringi, was further remanded for sentencing pending an

alcohol assessment. INJURY CHARGE Trial by Jury was sought by a man, aged 38, charged with assaulting Byron Melvin Phelps with intent to injure him. The accused was remanded on renewed bail to November 6 for depositions to be taken.. Police say the alleged offence took place on September 26. On the application of counsel, Mr Jim Tee, interim suppression of the accused’s home was continued. STOLE VAN A man who sold a van to a second-hand car dealer for $3OOO and later saw it offered for sale at $7500 felt he had got a poor deal, the Judge was told. Norman James Moore, aged 25, a baker, admitted stealing the van, the property of Kaiapoi Kar Kourt, in November, last year. He was convicted and remanded on bail to October 31 for a reparation report and sentence. Detective-Sergeant R. Bruce said after the complainant firm purchased the van from the defendant it was found to be in poor mechanical condition. Considerable time and money was spent in restoring it.

When work was completed it was offered for sale at $7500.

Moore stole the van and stored it at Rakaia. It had been worked on and the engine had been replaced. As a result of the theft, the complainant firm had received $5600 from an insurance firm, and compensation of this amount was sought from Moore, said Sergeant Bruce.

BURGLARY CHARGES An unemployed youth facing six charges of burglary was allowed bail of $2OOO and remanded without plea, to October 22. Selwyn Robert Parata, aged 17 (Mr B. A. Wolfe), faces four charges of breaking into the lona Presbyterian House in Breezes Road, and one charge each of burgling the Portsmouth Street Medical Surgery, and Plastercraft Industries. Police say the offences took place between August 19 and 30. (Before Judge Bisphan) CHARGE DISMISSED A charge against Christopher Cliff Morris of false pretence arising from a motor-vehicle transaction was dismissed after a defended hearing. Morris, aged 32, a beneficiary (Mr P. H, B. Hall), had denied a charge that, on or about February 17 this year, with intent to defraud, he obtained from A.A. Finance a cheque for $4994.69 by falsely representing that another man was the sole owner of a 1977 Ford Falcon panel van, and that it was free of encumbrances. After hearing prosecution witnesses, and, defence submissions that there was no case to answer, the Judge dismissed the charge, in a case which he said involved a “convoluted series of transactions.” The Judge said he had grave suspicions whether Morris had acted honestly in the transaction but he could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that he acted dishonestly. Sergeant F. S. Wood prosecuted.