Policeman charges son with theft

Press, 24 April 1987, Page 4

Policeman charges son with theft

Auckland

A policeman laid charges against his son who converted and crashed the family car, the District Court at Auckland was told. Richard Dalton Hill, aged 19, of Orakei, admitted converting a car, the property of his father, Senior-Sergeant John Hill, of Otahuhu. Hill also admitted not having a driver’s licence and driving carelessly. Sergeant Bill Richards said Hill took the car and was driving at an “excessive speed” when the vehicle overturned in Parnell. The car struck a road sign and a tree and was badly damaged. For Hill, Mr Bob Hesk-

eth said the father had to lay charges in order to make an insurance claim. He was a “most unwilling complainant." Mr Richards said Hill took the keys to the car, picked up a friend and went for a drive because he was depressed. Hill sat his driver’s test four years ago, but failed the oral questions, Mr Hesketh said. It was Hill’s first court appearance. Judge Browne said he would consider an application for discharge without conviction after he had seen a reparation report. He remanded Hill to May 27 for the report and for sentence.