The courts Youth goes to jail

Press, 17 January 1989, Page 9

The courts Youth goes to jail

Three months imprisonment was imposed in the District Court yesterday on Makarini Jason Solomon for his sixth offence in two years of driving while disqualified. Solomon, aged 18, was appearing for sentence on a charge of driving while disqualified on November 25. Imposing the prison term, Judge Noble said Solomon had been seen by a police patrol driving from his home, less than two months after he had been disqualified from driving for six months. Upon seeing the patrol, he changed seats with a passenger and protested that he had not been driving but eventually admitted he had been the driver.

The Judge said that, sadly, Solomon had a substantial problem of drug and alcohol abuse.

He had to resolve to get rid of these addictions if he wanted to get on in life.

The probation report indicated that Solomon’s performance while on parole — as he was when this offence occurred — was barely adequate. Mr G. A. Hay, for Solomon, had sought a sentence of periodic detention. In addition to the prison sentence, Solomon had his disqualification from driving extended by a year. SIX MONTHS JAIL On charges of theft of clothing worth $ll5O, and unlawfully* entering a building, on November 30, Raymond Mark Hill, aged 22, was given concurrent sentences of six months imprisonment. He was given a concurrent sentence of two months jail for theft of $l4 on the same day. He was appearing for sentence after pleading guilty to the charges at an earlier appearance. The Judge said that a medical report showed Hill suffered from clinical depression. However, he had a history of alcohol and drug abuse and it appeared he would continue to commit offences until he resolved to try to overcome these difficulties. He had continued to “blow” opportunities given to him by tile court on his appearances for past offences. He had recently been admitted to Kennedy

Villa, but had been discharged the same day for smoking cannabis. Any sentence less than imprisonment would be inappropriate and inadequate so far as the public’s protection was concerned. Counsel, Mr S. L. O’Neill, submitted that the offences were opportunistic. Hill had co-operated with the police and all the stolen property had been recovered. DEPORTATION POSSIBLE A Western Samoan woman who entered Ngata Hall at the University of Canterbury on January 10 and stole $2 from the room of a man competing at the World Deaf Games might face deportation when she appears on January 30 for sentence.

The defendant, Marylou Moetoto Prasad, aged 26, a housewife, pleaded guilty to charges of being found unlawfully in the university hall, and stealing $2 belonging to Jason Harvey Ingraham. When her case was first called, Sergeant Morrison sought a plea to be entered so’ that, if necessary, evidence could be heard before the complainant left Christchurch after competing in the Games.

Sergeant Morrison said Prasad was still under a suspended sentence imposed in the District Court last October for offences committed at that time. This sentence had been imposed after she told the Judge at that appearance that she was returning to Western Samoa.

“She is, in fact, still here and offending again while under the suspended sentence,” the sergeant said. After being stood down in custody, Prasad appeared again and pleaded guilty to the two offences.

Sergeant Morrison said Prasad had entered the hall at the university, where World Deaf Games competitors were staying, and went into a room where she took money from a wallet.

She was apprehended soon after leaving, and admitted the offence.

She had no explanation. Sergeant Morrison said applications would be made at the time of her sentencing for her to be

resentenced on the charges for which she received a suspended sentence last October; and for her deportation. Counsel, Mrs M. A. Grant, said the defendant apparently was returning to the Islands with her husband and children next month. Judge: That’s what I heard three months ago. SEXUAL CHARGES A man charged with sexually violating a woman on January 14 was remanded on bail, without plea, to January 23. Conditions of bail for the ' defendant, Ronald William Jones, aged 28, a farm hand, included that he live at home, have no contact with the complainant, refrain from taking alcoholic liquor, and stay away from licensed premises.

Tane John Sutton, aged 20, an assembly worker, was remanded in custody to January 24, without plea, on a charge of sexually violating a woman on January 13. Bail was not sought. OFFENDED AGAIN

Five days after being released from prison under an early-release scheme, Jeffrey Paul Lowe, aged 18, unemployed, demanded a man’s packet of chips, while holding a knife near the man’s chest, in Cathedral Square last Saturday. Lowe pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing a knife in circumstances which, on the face of it, showed an intention to us,e it to commit an offence involving violence.

He was convicted and remanded on bail to January 30 for sentence. Sergeant K. J. Morrison said that at 3 p.m. last Saturday Lowe approached a man, aged 25, in Cathedral Square and asked for the chips the man was carrying. The man told him to buy his own. Lowe then took out a knife, held it close to the complainant’s chest and again asked for the chips, but was refused.

He then put away his knife and said he was sorry.

Sergeant Morrison said Lowe had been released from prison under an early-release scheme on January 9. An order was sought for the forfeiture of the knife, and this was made by the Judge.