Man let boys set up drug ‘plantation’

Press, 2 December 1987, Page 6

Man let boys set up drug ‘plantation’

A fine of $5OO was imposed on a man, aged 36, who permitted two boys, one aged 14, the other 16, to establish “a plantation of cannabis plants” at his house. It was an extraordinary offence when one considered the ages of the boys, Judge Fogarty told Graham Laurence Genet who appeared before him for sentence in the District Court yesterday. Genet (Mr J. S. Fairclough), was for sentence for allowing his premises to be used for the cultivation of cannabis.

One hundred and eight cannabis plants were found growing in and round a house in Colombo Street when the police searched there on November 11. The offence showed a complete lack of judgment on the part of the defendant a first offender, said the Judge. ARSON OFFENCE Compensation of $538 was sought from a sixthform student who set fire to a telephone book which caused interior damage to a telephone kiosk at Sumner.

Richard Douglas Earl, aged 17, (Mr G. J. Venning), was convicted and remanded to December 14 for sentence.

Sergeant K. Morrison said the offence occurred

at 11 p.m. on November 7. The defendant, and friends, had been looking through the telephone book for an address. After failing to find it, the others left Earl in the kiosk.

He took a .cigarette lighter and lit pages of the book. It did not ignite immediately and he left the kiosk.

Soon after, flames reached the roof of the kiosk damaging the interior.

The fire was extinguished by a police patrol. Earl was initially charged with wilfully setting fire to the telephone kiosk.

He pleaded guilty after police amended the charge to wilfully setting fire to the telephone book. WEDDING PRESENT A burglary was committed by Anthony Shane Hepi to get money with which to buy a present for a friend who was getting married, said Sergeant Morrison. Hepi, aged 17, unemployed (Mr J. S. Halls), took property worth $2447 from a house he broke into in Snell Place about November 13.

Only $730 worth of the stolen property had been recovered, said Sergeant Morrison.

Hepi was convicted and remanded in custody to December 10 for sentence.

More court news, page 39.