Disqualified driver sent to prison

Press, 23 January 1988, Page 8

Disqualified driver sent to prison

Prison sentences totalling 13 months were imposed in the District Court yesterday on Richard John Chamberlain, aged 19, unemployed, on multiple offences of driving while disqualified, and charges of escaping from custody, possessing a knife, and careless driving. Judge Fraser told Chamberlain in relation to the five disqualified driving charges that he had, in the past, flouted disqualification orders imposed by the Court. The present offences showed he blatantly defied the Court orders. Chamberlain was given concurrent sentences of a year’s imprisonment on each charge of disqualified driving, an additional one month’s jail for escaping from the District Court on December 26, and a concurrent term of a month’s jail for possessing a knife at Cashin Quay, Lyttelton, on September 13. On a charge of careless driving, he was convicted and discharged. His disqualification from driving was extended by a year, to June 11, 1989.

He had previously admitted all charges: The five offences of disqualified driving occurred on dates between August and December, and included two such offences committed 20 minutes apart in the city on October 27. The escaping charge was brought after he ran from the District Court dock when he had been remanded in custody on a charge arising from his allegedly having stabbed his brother in the chest. He has been remanded in custody on the injury charge, to February 22. INCEST CHARGE A man aged 53 was remanded on bail to March 11, for depositions to be taken, on charges of incest with his daughter, aged under 12 years, indecently assaulting her, and sexually violating her with intent to have unlawful sexual intercourse with her. The charge of incest relates to dates between July 5, 1981, and September 1, 1987, the sexual violation charge between February 1, 1986, and September 1, 1987, and the charge of indecent assault between July 5, 1981, and February 1,

1986. The defendant’s bail terms were continued to the depositions date. Terms of bail provide that the defendant live at the premises specified, and not to go to his former premises or attempt to see the complainant. CHARGE ADMITTED A taxi driver who began gambling his own, then his employer’s money, admitted a charge of theft of money totalling $1043.80 belonging to ; Stanley Neville Ronald Lane, and of later making a false complaint to the police that he had been the victim of a robbery, and had the money taken from his cab. The defendant, Michael lan Fraser, aged 23, was convicted of both offences and remanded on bail to February 19 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant K. G. Wallwork said Fraser began placing bets on horses last August. Having little success, he increased his betting and then took taxi fare takings.

The amounts taken increased between Decem-

ber 15 and January 5. He gave various reasons to his employer for not having the full takings. Eventually, he said he was calling with the outstanding money, but decided to stage a robbery to gain time. He made a radio call from his taxi in Addington that he had been robbed of his takings at knifepoint by three persons. Detectives worked 45 man-hours on inquiries into the complaint. When further interviewed, Fraser admitted making a false complaint of robbery. He said he had heard other taxi drivers talking about winning on racehorses, and saw it as a way to get rich. After the losses, he had panicked and made up the story of being robbed. The full amount taken had been repaid, Sergeant Wallwork said. ROBBERY IN WELLINGTON A Christchurch man will be sentenced in the High Court in Christchurch on February 5 for the robbery and grievous assault on a man in a street in Wellington on October 12, and two thefts of household items worth $1552.70 in Christchurch in December. Judge Fraser committed Shaun Alasdair McLay, aged 18, unemployed, to the High Court for sentence on a charge of robbery and causing grievous bodily harm to the Wellington man. His leather jacket, wallet, $470, sunglasses, watch, and a Post Office Savings Bank cheque book were taken.

The Judge also declined jurisdiction on the theft offences, and similarly committed McLay for sentence in the High Court. McLay was remanded in custody, awaiting sentence. Sergeant M; J. South said that McLay and others had been drinking in a hotel in Wellington. They began drinking with the complainant. McLay decided he wanted the complainant’s leather jacket. Later, on his way home, the complainant was set upon in a street by McLay. and a companion and was punched and kicked. • The complainant lost consciousnes and was left in the street. He wandered dazedly round Kilbirnie until he got help. The Post Office book and other identity papers were discarded by the defendant, and $450 of the money taken had not been recovered. Sergeant South produced a medical report listing the complainant’s injuries. The complainant was an expatriate New Zealander, living in Australia, who had been on a visit to Wellington. The theft offences involved taking cutlery, crockery, bedding, and assorted items from a motel and from another complainant. McLay told the police he needed the items to furnish a flat in Christchurch. FALSE COMPLAINT A housewife with five young children to support, was convicted and discharged when she appeared for sentence on

a charge of falsely complaining to the police on January 6 that an intruder had entered her house and tried to rape her. She had admitted the charge at an earlier appearance. The false allegation had been made; in a written statement to the police. The police said , the woman had said after admitting her statement was false, that everything was getting on top of her and she could not get ahead. Counsel, Mr J. H. M. Eaton; yesterday successfully sought a conviction and discharge, and final suppression .of the woman’s name. He said the woman had been “abandoned” by her husband recently. Inevitably, she had reached a crisis without supporting facilities to turn to. She jiad then taken the course of making the false complaint. The woman had now arranged to take counselling, and had means to support herself . and family. CANNABIS PLANTS On a charge of cultivating 30 cannabis plants in his garden, Kevin Charles Harrison, aged 26, a baker, was fined $4OO when he appeared for sentence. He was fined $lOO for possessing cannabis and $lOO for possessing a pipe to smoke the drug. The offences related to December 16, when the police visited his property and found 30 growing plants, two small containers of dried cannabis, and two pipes.