Baby sitter confronted by man wielding knife

Press, 8 October 1987, Page 31

Baby sitter confronted by man wielding knife

Six months In prison was the sentence given to a man who, seeing a strange car in the drive of a former woman friend’s house, slashed and punctured the tyres, broke into the New Brighton house, and wielding a knife, confronted a teenage male babysitter, who was in bed.

In the District Court yesterday, William John Black, aged 33, a freezing worker (Mr Gerald Lascelles), appeared for sentence for wounding Allen Joseph O’Connell with reckless disregard for his safety, breaking and entering the Rodney Street house, and Intentionally damaging O’Connell’s car, on the night of August 15.

As a result of the bedroom confrontation, the complainant suffered two superficial cuts to the neck. He also suffered subsequent nightmares and was off work for a time recuperating.

The facts of the case were particularly disturbing, said Judge Mahon. “By any standards your actions on that night must have been such as to create absolute terror in your victim,” he said. “Because Black was, at the time, affected by liquor, it was more a case of good fortune that the victim’s injuries were not more serious,” said the Judge. In addition to imprisonment, Black was ordered to pay compensation of $l7O for damage done to the windows of the house, and $552 for damage to the complainant’s car.

Mr Lascelles sought something less than a full custodial sentence. He contended that Black did not cause serious danger to the young man’s safety. The police agreed that the two superficial cuts might have all been caused accidently. PRISON TERM Six months in prison was also given to a man who, using a homemade axe, smashed the window of a High Street jewellers, and grabbed jewellery. Having regard to the type of burglary and Stephen John Isherwood’s apparent ladk of motive to take treatment to help him cure his long-time drug habit, there was no alternative sentence to imprisonment, said the Judge. Isherwood, aged 29, unemployed (Mr W. Rosenberg), was earlier convicted of breaking and entering Kennetts Jewellers on September 13.

A taxi driver who saw the incident, called the police. The jewellery was recovered. INDECENT EXPOSURE

A man, aged 40, who twice within a space of 15 minutes indecently exposed' himself to young girls, was given a deferred 12-month sentence and ordered to pay $2OO towards, the costs of prosecution. While accepting that both offences were out of character, the Judge said such disgraceful conduct was naturally of concern to the court and to the community, especially where young girls were Involved.

After considering a psychiatric report, Judge Mahon agreed to a request by counsel, Mr R. F. B. Perry, for final suppression of the defendant’s name.

The man, a first offender, admitted indecently exposing himself first in Gloucester Street, and then in Cashel Street on the afternoon of August 22. Sergeant Rene Pabst said in each case the defendant, who was in his car, asked the girls for directions and when they approached his car saw him masturbating. Mr Perry said while agreeing in general with the police summary, his client denied he was masturbating on each occasion. THEFT CHARGE Bail was not opposed for a man charged with stealing $2640, the property of Countdown Supermarket Francis John Panapa, aged 27, unemployed (Mr David Stringer), was remanded on bail to October 21. Police allege the money was stolen on September 19. ROAD ’HAZARD’ Traffic in Papanui Road was twice disrupted by a man who initially lay on the road with his hands and feet in the air, and later dropped his trousers and exposed his buttocks to passing motorists, said Sergeant Pabst. David William Palmer, aged 19, an apprentice cabinet maker, admitted the disorderly behaviour which took place on the

night of October 3. A duty solicitor said the defendant, a first offender, has been “doing the square mile” which involved visiting a number of hotels. Palmer, In his intoxicated state, had felt the offending to be “skylarking” rather than obscene behaviour, said the solicitor. The judge adjourned the case for two weeks. If in that period the defendant could produce a certificate to say he had completed eight hours work on behalf of some voluntary agency' then he would consider a discharge. “ BURGLARY CHARGE Bail was opposed for two men charged with breaking and entering the Mowbray Street premises of Dally Freightways. Ivan Trevor McDonald, aged 18, unemployed, and Alister Rex Campbell, aged 20, a baker’s assistant, were each remanded in custody to October 14. Sergeant Pabst said a considerable amount of property was involved in the alleged burglary, which occurred overnight on October 5. BEFORE JUDGE BISPHAN A warrant was issued in the Children and Young Person’s Court yesterday for the arrest of a youth, aged 15, who failed to appear on a charge of assaulting a girl, aged 10, in Hampshire Street, Aranul, last Friday. The youth was alleged to have threatened the girl with a kitchen knife.