Seven years jail for Post Office robber

Press, 4 February 1987, Page 4

Seven years jail for Post Office robber

The Dallington Post Office robber, who has never worked in his life, was jailed for a total of seven years by Mr Justice Holland in the High Court yesterday. Braden Dean Frees, also known as Chasdean Braden Stilgar, aged 25, unemployed, had pleaded guilty to robbing Caroline Rose Jones, an employee at the Dallington Post Office, of $5820 while armed with,an imitation pistol.

He also admitted a series of charges resulting in the loss of several thousands of dollars worth of goods — 14 of false pretence and one each of theft of a car, burglary, possession of an offensive weapon and breach of parole. After the Post Office robbery, Frees ran to Woodham Park where he hid behind bushes while he changed his clothes, leaving them behind with the imitation pistol and a knife. He travelled by bus to Cathedral Square and then took a taxi to his home in Hoon Hay. Half the money was given to a woman associate and, after buying new clothes and having his hair dyed, streaked and permanently waved, Frees flew to Auckland

where the remaining proceeds from the robbery were spent on food, clothing and accommodation. He was arrested and returned to Christchurch. Frees presented a considerable problem on sentence, Mr Justice Holland said.

He had admitted a charge of aggravated robbery in which he had held up the Dallington Post Office and took $5820 by presenting an imitation firearm and he had a knife with the admitted intention of using it, if required. “Today, through your counsel, you deny any intention to use the knife but that is not what you told the police. It must be made clear that the Courts will look with the greatest suspicion on anyone who carries a knife in the course of criminal activity and then makes the claim they did not intend to use it The obvious question is why carry it?” said the Judge. In addition, Frees stole a car and damaged it to the value of $2OOO, committed a burglary and stole goods valued at $3200 and, with the assistance of others, obtained goods and services to the value of $5213 with worthless cheques.

All the money was gone and there was no possibility of restitution. Frees had had a terrible start in life, but many of his problems were of his own creation. By his present state of mind he had shown that he was unable to live in society. Mr Glue had pointed out that Frees had never worked in his life and had asked that the jail term be followed by a lengthy period of work parole. “You have had the advantage of this very sympathetic parole system at present In force. After being released to Salisbury Home, you couldn’t take it and refused to comply with the discipline and rules.

"It’s no use letting you out on parole until you want to toe the line yourself and that means disciplining yourself more than you have done In the past,” the Judge said.

The public had to be protected not only from persons like Frees but also from those who might be tempted to act in the same way. It was to be hoped that a longer term of Imprisonment might help him change his mind about criminal activity because he was at

Se stage where he might ; capable of living only in prison. “That is a terrible thing to say to anyone. I hope it is not true in your case, it will only be changed if you change your attitude to society,” said the Judge. For Frees, Mr Mervyn Glue said that, after the initial denials, his client was extremely frank with the police and pleaded guiltv to all charges. .It was all bluff-as Frees had only an imitation pistol and he did nbt intend to harm anyone. He needed the money for drugs to cope with depression. —<- - •

The valueless cheques were used to obtain clothing and accommodation because he was unable to adjust to society after his release from prison. , The probation report was one of the. saddest documents he had ever read. Frees was convinced that he was doomed after having an incredibly unhappy and disruptive childhood. He had a dreadful list of convictions which .covered seven and a half pages. It was a sad fact that Frees had never worked in his life and had hot known the satisfaction of a job, Mr Glue said. •