Youths Broke 16 Windows

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30979, 8 February 1966, Page 3

Youths Broke 16 Windows

(New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH, Feb. 7. Sixteen plate-glass windows ranging in value up to £75, and a total value of £614 13s, were broken by two youths in expeditions round Palmerston North in a motor-car between September 22 and November 14. Stones were used.

The two youths were Glenn Claridge, aged 18, an apprentice panelbeater, of Tokomaru, and Graeme Andrew Stock, aged 19, an apprentice joiner, of Palmerston North.

They pleaded guilty to 11 joint charges of wilfully damaging the windows, and Stock pleaded guilty to two further charges involving £4O damage. The two youths were convicted and remanded in custody to next Monday for a probation officer’s report and sentence.

Sergeant H. R. Nicholas told Mr D. G. Sinclair, S.M., that the police had received many complaints of window-break-ing from September to November.

After extensive inquiries the defendants were interviewed. They admitted having had a few beers on September 22. After one of them had remarked that a plate-glass window they were passing would be easy to break, they collected stones and broke windows through the city. Two months later, Claridge’s parents were absent, aqd after a few beers at their home the two defendants decided to break more windows. When interviewed by the

police they had been helpful in admitting other breakages concerning which the police had had no complaint. On November 11 Stock and a youth other than Claridge had collected stones and broken - two more windows, said the sergeant. Stock’s share of any restitution would be £347 6s 6d. and Claridge’s £307 6s 6d.