Jail on tenth conviction for driving while disqualified

Press, 24 September 1987, Page 34

Jail on tenth conviction for driving while disqualified

Prison terms of 18 months were imposed in the District Court yesterday on SOnny William Sadlier, aged 19, for a series of offences which Judge Erber said include Sadlier’s tenth conviction for driving while disqualified, and fifteenth for dishonesty.

Sadlier received the concurrent 18 months prison terms for charges of driving while disqualified, and unlawfully taking a car. He was also jailed, concurrently, for a year on two charges of false prentence arising from his using cheques from a cheque book stolen from a car.

On a charge of failing to stop when signalled to do so by a constable in uniform, Sadlier was convicted and discharged. After hearing defence submissions in mitigation of penalty, the Judge said Sadlier had a considerable drug problem. Th Judge traversed recent offences by Sadlier, and sentences imposed, and said every possible sentence which the court could impose had been tried.

He said a supplementary probation report stated that unless Sadlier was prepared to co-oper-ate in relation to community care and allied sentences his prospects of rehabilitation were bleak. Imposing the prison sentences, the Judge said

a further spasm of leniency by the court for •Sadlier’s offending was not justified. He extended Sadlier’s disqualification from driving by 18 months, to November 4, 1991. UNLIGHTED TRUCK A motor-cyclist hit a truck parked without lights and later died from injuries he sustained, the court was told. Dougal David Patched, aged 24, an apprentice carpenter was fined $350 for carelessly using his truck. He was also ordered to pay costs on a charge of parking his truck without lights. The police summary said Patched had correctly parked his truck in Amyes Road, but left no lights on and the truck had no red rear light. A motor-cyclist, Colin John Rowlands, of Hornby, ran into the rear of the truck at 11.40 p.m. on March 20. He suffered severe head injuries. Sergeant J. E. Dwyer, who prosecuted, said Mr Rowlands had a blood alcohol ratio of 141 milligrams, Defence counsel, Mr S. Jones, submitted that Mr Rowlands’ drunkenness had been the major cause of the accident. Possibly even if the truck had been lighted he still would have struck it. He said the careless use charge was a very technical offence, and submitted

that it would be a harsh and inappropriate sentence to deprive Patchett of his driver’s licence. He sought a discharge without conviction on the careless use charge, and said Patchett had been decidedly upset at Mr Rowlands’ death. He had said he would not park his truck in that way again. The Judge said Mr Rowlands’ alcohol level was nearly twice the permitted level for driving, and he accepted that his condition was the major cause of the accident. He had not seen and avoided a pretty obvious obstruction, but it was possible he might have seen the truck a little earlier and not sustained his fatal injuries, if the truck had been lit INDECENT ASSAULT A man who indecently assaulted a sleeping boy aged four years on the evening of May 9 was ordered to do a six months community-care programme. The defendant, Stephen Noel Worthing, aged 21, a sickness beneficiary, was appearing for sentence after admitting the offence at an earlier appearance. He was represented by Mr K. J. Searle. The Judge said he accepted that Worthing had committed the offence out of curiosity and not from some baser desire. He had obvious prob-

lems, but had people who thought well enough of him to work very considerably towards helping him. For that reason alone, a community-care sentence would be imposed for the offence, the Judge said. KNIFE OFFENCES An unemployed man, aged 17, who had purchased a pocket knife from an associate, got out of a car and produced the knife in front of some passing high school students, the Christchurch District Court was told yesterday.

Johnathon William Holland, unemployed of no fixed abode, appearing before Judge Erber, pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon, a knife, on July 16. He also pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon on September 18. Detective Sergeant Bryan Roswell, prosecuting, said Bolland had purchased the pocket knife for $5.

After producing the knife in front of the students, Bolland had then thrown it in the river because he did not want to be caught with it. On the other offensive weapon charge, Bolland, who had been with a group of young people with baseball bats, had a studded leather belt and wristband. Detective Sergeant Roswell said Bolland had told police he had worn the belt and wristband to

look tough. Bolland was remanded on ball until October 8, to appear in the District Court, and was ordered to report to police daily as well as obeying a curfew order during the evenings. NAME SUPPRESSED A man, aged 20, was granted interim suppression of name by Judge Erber, when he appeared on a charge of sexually violating a girl aged nine to 10 years. The man is charged with committing the . offence between February 1 and December 30 last year. He was remanded without plea until September 30, ordered to live at his parents’ home and not to try to contact the complainant or any of her family. DRUGS CHARGE A man aged 35, allegedly found In possession of two needles and a syringe was remanded on bail until September 30 on a charge under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Clive Neil McClure was also charged with unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle, and driving while disqualified on Tuesday. GUILTY PLEA A man who pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving stolen property was remanded for sentencing today. Henry Joe Luafutu, aged 29, a sickness beneficiary admitted receiving a necklace between September 12 and September 14.