Disqualified driver jailed

Press, 22 June 1989, Page 34

Disqualified driver jailed

A disqualified driver who unlawfully took two cars and drove them while under the influence of solvents was jailed for 18 months. In the District Court yesterday Judge Frampton also disqualified Michael Mace from holding or obtaining a driver’s licence for three years. Mace, aged 20, unemployed (Mr Tim Fournier), was appearing for sentence on charges of escaping from custody, driving while disqualified, dangerous driving, driving while under the influence of a drug, and unlawfully taking two cars. The Judge told Mace that if he was unable to accept treatment for his solvent abuse then his future outlook was very bleak.

Mr Fournier said his client had little, if any, recollection of what occurred due to his abuse of solvents. Mace, who was a committed patient at Sunnyside Hospital escaped from Kennedy Villa on June 11.

The next day he was seen by police driving a converted car on State

highway 75 which runs between Christchurch and Akaroa. On driving downhill on the stretch of highway between the Hilltop Tavern and Cooptown Mace drove erratically, sometimes on the wrong side of the road, which at the time was busy with wandering stock. He eventually lost control at a sharp bend and came to rest on a grass verge. Reparation of $935 was sought in respect of damage to the vehicle. An attempt was made by police to stop Mace when, about 3 a.m. on March 14 at Ashburton, he was seen .driving a car unlawfully taken earlier that day in Christchurch. After driving at speeds of up to 140 km/h over a five kilometre distance Mace again lost control of the car which sped down a dirt road, near Hinds, destroying a large section of wire fence. When apprehended in the Hinds riverbed after a short chase, Mace admitted having inhaled starter fluid and he was unsure of his whereabouts. Damage to this vehicle

was put at $3580 and compensation had been sought by the police. CHARGES DENIED Seven charges of intentionally intercepting telephone conversations between two women by the use of a listening device, were denied by Stuart James Lawson. He also denied two charges of intentionally disclosing the substance of the private conversations he had heard. The police allege that Lawson, aged 40, an engineer (Ms Jane Farish), committed the offences between January 13 and April 22. Lawson was remanded to July 19 for a defended hearing. COMPENSATION Compensation of $7OOO at the rate of $5O a week was ordered to be paid by Paul Richard Watson. Watson, aged 26, unemployed (Mr Shaun O'Neill) was earlier convicted of stealing a $7OOO car which was stripped and taken to McLean’s Island where it was set alight. Watson told police he committed the offence because he had no money to fix his own car.

He was also sentenced in respect of two charges of receiving property worth $950. In addition to compensation the Judge ordered Watson to attend periodic detention for six months. He was also put on supervision for 12 months. SUPERVISION Probationary supervision for six months was the sentence given to Neil Kevin Coutts earlier convicted on two charges of burglary and one of receiving a stolen camera. Coutts, aged 18, unemployed (Mr P. N. Nation), had earlier admitted breaking into the shop premises of The Filling Station in Port Hills Road on May 9 and 31, and with receiving a camera which he then attempted to sell in Rangiora. The Judge said there was nothing in the defendant’s background to suggest he would have become involved in this sort of offending. It seemed to be a case of the devil finding use for idle hands, he said. An order was made that Coutts pay compensation of $2lO in respect of unrecovered property.