Cannabis plantings ‘got out of hand’

Press, 25 February 1988, Page 28

Cannabis plantings ‘got out of hand’

Seventy cannabis plants were found growing at the Podney Street address of John McKinnon Donnelly, said Sergeant M. J. South in the District Court yesterday. Donnelly, aged 35, a painter-decorator (Mr A. N. D. Garrett), admitted charges of cultivating and possessing cannabis, on January 2, and with breaking and entering the Hereford Street premises of Tritschler Dispensing Opticians on January 31.

Twenty-four plants, ranging from 80cm to 130 cm high, were found growing in the open at the defendant’s address. Located in a shed were 46 plants. In a refrigerator was a plastic grocery bag containing about 300 grams of cannabis leaf, while in the freezer was another bag containing about 85 grams of cannabis leaf, said Sergeant South.

Also found in a case under Donnelly’s bed were 13 pairs of sunglasses taken from the burglary. Donnelly admitted committing the burglary with an associate who received half of the proceeds. Donnelly told the police that at the time of the burglary he had quarrelled with his de facto partner and had decided to do "something stupid,” said Sergeant South.

The cannabis was planted three months ago. It was for his own use, but had got out of hand and he had given some of it away.

As a result of Donnelly’s co-operation with the police, a further 39 pairs of sunglasses had been recovered, said Sergeant South. Entry to the opticians was gained by smashing a window in the main door. Eighty pairs of sunglasses, valued at $15,000, were stolen, said Sergeant South.

A charge of possessing cannabis for sale or supply was withdrawn by the police. Donnelly was convicted by Judge Anderson on the three offences. He was remanded in custody to March 3 for sentence. NO REPARATION

No reparation was ordered to be paid by four of five persons who were for sentence for conspiring with one another to defraud Bankcard (N.Z.), Ltd, of $14,269. The Judge said that, as much as he would have liked to have ordered reparation, he regretted that he was unable to do so.

Such settlements, he said, should be taken in another jurisdiction.

While each of the four had expressed a wish to make reparation, said counsel, Mr J. S. Halls,

they were all on benefits of one form or another, which made the prospect unrealistic.

Appearing for sentence were: Wayne Baden Johansen, aged 23, Sharon Gaye Ranger, aged 17, Leah Marie Ranger, aged 20, all unemployed, and Christopher Joseph Taylor, aged 18, a sickness beneficiary.

All were represented by Mr Halls.

The Judge said it was a case where the Court could not impose sentences that were equal in effect because each defendant had different circumstances to be taken into account.

Wayne Johansen who, he said, had a serious list of past offending and had played an integral part in the conspiracy, was sent to prison for nine months. Leah Ranger, a first offender, was pregnant with a child due shortly. She was further remanded to April 21 for sentence.

Sharon Ranger, who, the Judge said, had a tremendous number of debts, and was now in the hands of the Official Assignee, was sentenced to periodic detention for five months.

Christopher Taylor was also for sentence for assault and intentionally obstructing a police officer. He was, said the Judge, urgently in need of

straightening out and discipline. He was sentenced to corrective training. The 203 offences, committed by the defendants, took place between October 1, last year, and January 5. (Before Judge Fogarty) STOLE WOOL Seven bales of wool, valued at $3900, were stolen by Wayne Stuart Manson from his uncle’s farm at Kaituna Valley because, he told police, he was owed money for work done on the farm. Manson, aged 31, a shed hand, had sold the wool to seven different brokers, said Sergeant W. P. Creasey. Four bales had been recovered, and compensation of $3500 was sought from the defendant in respect of the unrecovered bales. Manson, who committed the two offences of theft in December, last year, and last month, was convicted and remanded to March 9 for sentence. A charge of receiving three bales of wool was withdrawn by the police. STOLE FISH Four fillets of smoked ling were stolen from a Colombo Street fish shop by Samuel Ernest Ross, who then gave them to some street kids he felt sorry for, said Sergeant Creasey. Ross, aged 35, a fish splitter, said the kids had

told him they looked for their food in rubbish tins.

In addition to the fish, the defendant gave them about $l6. He had been drinking earlier, said Sergeant Creasey. Ross was convicted and fined $75. He was also ordered to pay $l6 for the stolen fish. PRISON Four months in prison was the sentence given to a man who converted a $5OOO truck, belonging to his former employer, which he then drove repeatedly at a surrounding fence, damaging 30 metres of it. Gavin Bruce Gardyne, aged 22, a storeman (Mr G. F. French), was also disqualified from holding, or obtaining, a driver’s licence for 12 months. Gardyne was for sentence on charges of unlawfully taking the truck, the property of D. H. Brown and Son, Ltd, intentionally damaging a fence, the property of this firm, carelessly using the truck in Moorhouse Avenue, driving while disqualified, and with an excess blood alcohol level, and refusing to accompany a traffic officer.

The offences occurred on the night of November 5, last year.

No order was made for the $5120 reparation sought from Gardyne.