Spree nets $54,000

Press, 4 March 1989, Page 6

Spree nets $54,000

Property valued at $54,000 was stolen from 13 houses burgled by Pierre James Manning, said Sergeant Max South in the District Court yesterday. Manning, aged 30, unemployed (Mr Howard Dawson), had admitted driving with an excess blood alcohol level. He was convicted by Judge Noble and remanded in custody to March 10 for sentence and a reparation report. Sergeant South said the defendant committed the burglaries, most of which were in the north-west suburbs of Christchurch, between December last year and last month. Property stolen by Manning included electrical appliances, jewellery, antiques, whiteware, and furniture. A trailer was sometimes used by the defendant to remove the stolen property. The defendant was apprehended while driving the trailer full of stolen property. In explanation, Manning told police he had a severe alcohol and drug problem to support. He said most of the property was sold the same day it was stolen. Only $11,600 worth of the property had been recovered, said Sergeant South. Compensation of $43,000 was sought. ASSAULT OFFENCE After being head-butted three times, a man lying on the ground then had his head “stomped” on by Alan James Malloch, said Sergeant South. Malloch, aged 24, unemployed, admitted assaulting Clifford Pahl on February 23. Sergeant South said the assault, at 10.30 p.m., arose out of an earlier altercation between the two men, who were known to one another. When Malloch stomped on his head, Pahl was almost unconscious. As a result of the assault, Pahl suffered a broken nose and was admitted to hospital overnight for observation. The defendant was convicted and remanded on bail to March 16 for sentence.