Periodic detention for stealing copper wire

Press, 15 February 1989, Page 14

Periodic detention for stealing copper wire

Four months periodic detention, coupled with compensation of $3OOO, was the sentence Judge Frampton gave to an unemployed man convicted of stealing copper wire in December.

Bryan William Pullan, aged 30 (Mr R. S. Peters), who appeared in the District Court yesterday had earlier told the police he stole a quantity of cable. He planned to sell this to obtain money to buy food and clothing for his infant daughter.

The offence occurred at 11 p.m. on December 14, last year. The defendant, and an associate, were disturbed in the grounds of Lane, Walker Rudkin, Ltd, by a security officer. The judge was told the offence was committed because Pullan was des-

perate to obtain money. In addition to periodic detention, Pullan was put on supervision for nine months. OPIUM CHARGE A charge of possessing opium, a Class B controlled drug, was denied by a woman, aged 37. Elizabeth Velma Easton (Mrs A. Grant), was remanded to March 30 for a defended hearing. DRILL UNITS John Leslie Harper admitted receiving 35 Ramset drill units, valued at $20,000 in April, last year. Harper, aged 38, unemployed, was convicted and remanded to February 27 for sentence.

Detective-Sergeant Rick McCaskill, said that on April 16, last year, the premises of Ramset Fastening Systems were burgled and 41 drill units

were stolen. Thirty-five of these were later recovered at an address in Hornby. Harper, while admitting receiving the drill sets, told police he had nothing to db with the burglary. He was also convicted on a charge of having in his possession a pipe for smoking cannabis. SIX MONTHS JAIL A man who said that because of his nomadic life style he would not be able to comply with a sentence of periodic detention was sent to prison for six months.

Russell Gary Algar, aged 22, unemployed (Mr G. F. French), was for sentence on offences of offering to supply cannabis, possessing cannabis, unlawfully interfering with a vehicle, converting the vehicle, fight-

ing in Cathedral Square, and having $BOO in outstanding fines.

Mr French said each of the offences took place while Algar was under the influence of either drink or drugs. (BEFORE JUDGE FRASER) TRESPASS OFFENCE After an all-day defended hearing, two peace activists were each convicted and fined $lOO on a trespassing charge. Murray Donald Horton, aged 38, a freight operator, and Owen Ronald Wilkes, aged 48, a farmer, had denied a charge of trespassing at the United States Navy base at Christchurch Airport on October 25, last year.

At the time seven demonstrators were arrested during a peace coalition protest at the Navy base.