MAGISTRATE'S COURT Former Constable Admits 39 Theft Charges

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31006, 11 March 1966, Page 15

MAGISTRATE'S COURT Former Constable Admits 39 Theft Charges

While in charge of the lost property office at the Christchurch Central Police Station a constable committed 39 thefts, involving £232, over a period of nine months, Mr H. j. Evans, S.M., was told in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Graham Anthony Roger: Hamilton, aged 23, was remanded on bail to March 21 for sentence on 39 charges of theft. He pleaded guilty to all charges. Mr B. McClelland appeared for the accused Inspector B. Kelly said Hamilton was a member of the police from May 29, 1961. to February 3, 1966 when he was dismissed. For about nine months Hamilton was in charge of the lost and found property office. His duties entailed the handling of property which had been found and handed to the police. It was his duty to endeavour to locate the owner and return the property to him. Hamilton had to inform the finder of the articles by letter of the name of the owner of the articles. All the property involved in the 39 charges had been found and handed to the police. In the records kept bv Hamilton the articles were shown as either being returned to the owner or the finder. In some cases Hamilton recorded fictitious names and addresses of alleged owners and informed the finders that the property had been returned to those persons. In other instances he recorded fictitious names but genuine addresses and he also used genuine names and addresses and indicated in the record that the articles had been returned to their owners. Hamilton stole mainly money but he also took a number of purses and wallets and one wristlet watch, said Inspector Kelly. As the majority of purses and wallets belonged to unknown persons and because the articles had not been recovered the police

were unable to give any value l for them. The total amount involved! was £232 3s Id. The watch, i valued at £4 10s. had been re-1 covered. Restitution amount-1 ed to £227 13s Id. When interviewed Hamilton admitted the offences but ; was unable to give any explanation. He claimed that he had destroyed all the property other than the money land the watch. { Hamilton was a married man with two young children ;and was now employed as a workman with a building | firm, Inspector Kelly said. DISQUALIFIED UNTIL 1975 i Trevor Mapu Hema, aged 23, a crane driver (Mr S. G. jErber) was fined £45, adimitted to probation for three ■years and disqualified for an | additional 12 months when he appeared for sentence on {charges of driving while disqualified on December 24. {careless use and failing to {stop after an accident. { The Magistrate said that I Hema about 7 p.m. on Christjmas Day had driven into a {parked car in Draper street I and then had not stopped. Hema had a bad driving record, having been convicted seven times for driving while disqualified, been sent to Borstal and to gaol three times. However, in Hema’s favour were the facts that he was in good standing as an employee, all his previous offences had ■ involved cars in some way and he had made good re•{sponse when on probation {earlier. I “It seems gaol means nothing to you. I’m going to try •1 something different and give | you the opportunity to re- ■ spond to supervision,” he i said before placing Hema on ; probation. I A condition of the proba- ■ tion is that Hema shall not ; own a car either alone or ; jointly, or have a car in his ! possession. “By my reckoning, you will

now be disqualified till about 1975.” the Magistrate said when imposing another 12 months' disqualification. YOUTHS CHARGED Robert Douglas Wilkinson, aged 19. a workman (Mr R. G. Blunt), William Edgar Dron, aged 18, an auto wrecker (Mr D. H. Hicks), John Godfrey Dunphy, aged 19, an assistant storeman (Mr P. D. Hinchcliffe). and Kristen Joseph Smith, aged 19, a workman, all pleaded • guilty to a charge that on February 20 they had burgled a shed at Kennedy place the property of Fletcher Construction Company, Ltd Dron, Wilkinson, and Dunphy pleaded guilty to a charge that on or about February 26 they stole spanners, wrenches, a : grader sign and a road lamp, of a total value of £24 12s 9d on the West Coast. The pro perty belonged to the Ministry of Works. Wilkinson and Dron pleaded guilty to a charge that on February 26 between Motueka and Hanmer they stole road signs valued at £2O, the property of the Automobile Associations of Canterbury and Nelson. Dunphy pleaded not guilty to that charge and it was withdrawn. Each of the youths was convicted of the offences to which they had pleaded guilty. They were all remanded till March 21 for sentence. Bail was allowed in each case. FINED £6O “This was a bad case,” said the Magistrate when he fined Robert Mayne, aged 56, a building contractor, £6O and cancelled his driver’s licence for three years when he pleaded guilty to a charge of driving on the Main South road at Islington when under the influence of drink or drugs on March 2. Detective-Sergeant Kimber said a constable was talking to a motorist on the side of the road when he saw a car. driven by Mayne, approaching in an erratic manner. The constable had to move to the side of the road to avoid being run down He stopped the car near Hornby. Mr W. F. Brown, for the accused, said Mayne had been convicted of. driving under the influence 28 years before. The loss of his licence would involve him in considerable hardship. FINED £5O Allan Ruphua Thompson, aged 19. an apprentice carpenter, was admitted to probation for 18 months and was fined a total of £5O when he appeared for sentence on two charges of unlawfully taking cars, one of unlawfully taking a cycle and one of theft valued at 10s. Thompson was ordered to

make restitution of £4B and to take out a prohibition order. PROBATION Shirlee Anne Spence, aged 22. married, was admitted to probation for two years and was fined £2O on five charges of wilfully misleading a Post Office employee so as to obtain family benefit payments to the value of £l5 to which she was not entitled. She was appearing for sentence. Mr M. J. Glue, for the accused, said the offences were committed when she was pregnant. She was unable to handle her financial affairs and had got into considerable debt. The Magistrate said that last year Spence was placed on pro bation on five charges of false pretences. YOUTHS IN DISTURBANCE Three youths involved in a disturbance near the Totalisator Agency Board premises in Man Chester street on Wednesday night appeared in Court yesterday. John Glover, aged 22. a work man. pleaded guilty to charges of behaving in a disorderly manner in Manchester street and of assaulting Joseph Packer. He was convicted and fined £7 10s on each charge. Detective-Sergeant A. E, V. Yaxey said that on Wednesday night a cycHtet, Joseph Packer, saw Glover take a rubbish tin and empty the contents on to Manchester street. Packer called: “Watch it.” Glover then came at Packer with clenched fists. Packer managed to place h-is cycle between him self and Glover in an attempt to ward off the blows. Glover then took the cycle and threw it to the roadway. Packer then ran off, saying he would get the poMce. Glover then picked up the tin with both hands as if to hit Packer on the head with it and then chased Packer unsuccessfully down Manchester street. Glover and two others were later apprehended in Cathedral square. Brian Gerald McMtelan, aged 19, an apprentice printer, pleaded guilty to a charge of behaving in a di'S’orderly manner in Manchester street on Wednesday night. Detective-Sergeant Yaxiiey sand that McMMllan had been with Glover and after the scuffle developed between Packer and Glover, McMiMan and another youth had attempted to get behind Packer. McMilQilan was convicted and remanded till March 17. Baid was alllowed. Michael Patrick Warwood, aged 22, a storeman, was fined £7 10s on a charge of behaving in a diisorderty manner in Manchester street on Wednesday night near the T.A.B. Detective-Sergeant Yaxley said Warwood had been with the other two youths. STOLE COAL David Alexander Thompson, aged 24, a driver, was remanded on baiiil to March 17 for sentence on a charge of ste-atong four tons of coal, valued at £4O, the property of the State Coal Depot. He pleaded guilty. Detective - Sergeant Kimber said Thompson dumped a truck load of coal on hiis back lawn instead of taking it to the Templeton Hospital. FINED £5O James Hunt, aged 35, a chef, was convicted and fined £5O, and was disqualified from driving for three years, when he appeared on a charge of driving at Hornby on February -4 while under the influence of drink or drugs. He was also ordered to pay medical expenses of £3 3s. Mr G. R. Lascelles appeared for Hunt, who pleaded guilty. BURGLARY Nine charges of burglary were admitted by Brian James Lamont aged 19. a radio apprentice. He was remanded on bate to March 17 for sentence. Mr M. G. L Loughnan appeared for the accused. Detective • Sergeant K.mber said Lamont admitted alii the offences, four of which were committed alone and the others with accomplices. He was very co-operatiive and told the ponce that he was living 'in a flat and was short of food an-d did the burglaries “for kicks . Restitution amounted to £BB 2s. When Adrian George Adants. aged 17. unemployed, appeared for sentence on three charges of burglary to which he had pleaded guilty last week, one of the charges was withdrawn. Adams then pleaded gufflty to a charge laid in place of the one withdrawn and also pleaded guilty to two further charges of burglarv. He was then convicted on the three charges to which he pleaded yesterday and was remanded on all five charges till March 17 for sentence. Bail was allowed. GAOLED

Allan William Brand, aged 31, a driver (Mr W. Wilson), was gaoled for three months when

he appeared for sentence on a charge of obtaining £l5 by false pretences on February <2. FINED £2O A youth, whose name was suppressed (Mr A. D. Harman), was admitted to probation for 12 months and fined £2O when he appeared for sentence on a charge of receiving on January 30 cigarettes and food to a total value of £1 5s which he believed hat! been dishonestly obtained. Conditions of the probation were that he make restitution of £1 ss, that he refrain from associating with persons not approved of by the probation officer, and that he live and work where the officer directs. TWO FINED £2O EACH Thro youths whose names were suppressed (Mr R. G. Blunt) appeared for sentence on separate charges that at Nelson on January 1 they had attempted to have unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl aged under 14 years. One was fined £2O and the other was admitted to probation for 12 months, fined £2O with the conditions on his probation that he live and work where directed by the probation officer and refrain from associating with persons of whom the officer did not approve. SHOPLIFTERS CONVICTED Grace Morris, aged 44, a married woman, pleaded guilty to a charge that on February 7 she stole sundry groceries valued at 10s from Woolworths (New Zealand). Ltd.. Sydenham. She was convicted and remanded till March 17 for sentence. Bail was allowed. Hector Francis Styles, aged 64, a pensioner, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing from Self Help, Ltd., Sydenham, two packets of bacon valued at 6s 4d. He was convicted and remanded till March 21. Bail was allowed. THEFT AS A SERVANT A married woman, whose name was suppressed (Mr W. F. Brown), was fined £2O when she appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing from her employers on January 21 groceries valued at. 12s o}d. FURTHER CHARGES Kenneth Barrie Neal, aged 25. a joiner, pleaded guilty to two charges of false pretences committed on February 2 involving a total of £35 10s. He also appeared for sentence on charges on varying dates of obtaining credit by fraud amounting to £26 15s 2d, a breach of the Hire Purchase Agreement Act and the theft of a .cheque On all charge® he was remanded in custody tiflil March 17. NAME SUPPRESSED A woman, whose name was suppressed, pleaded guilty to a charge that on January 31, in Wellington, she stole a jacket, suitcase and camera of a total value of £lB. the property of Kevin John Dodds. She was remanded tell March 17. Bail was allowed. REMANDED FOR SENTENCE/ Charged with theft of goods valued at £7 18s 9d on March 4. David John Polden. aged 27, a wharf labourer (Mr G. R. Lascelles), was convicted and remanded on bail to March 21 for a report and sentence. He pleaded guilty. SUSPENDED SENTENCE Bert William Henry Poffley, aged 54. a tannery workman, was ordered to come up for sentence within 12 months if called upon and was ordered to undergo psychiatric treatment when he appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing a teapot, a pair of pliers and a paint brush, of a total value of 7s 6d. NAME SUPPRESSED A woman, whose name was suppressed, had a charge against her of stealing a cycle, valued at £l5. on May 29, 1964, adjourned to March 17 for sentence. CREDIT BY FRAUD Wayne David Beri. aged 20. unemployed, was remanded on bail to March 17 for sentence on a charge of obtaining credit to the value of £l2 16s 6d by fraud from the Royal Hotel in Nelson. He pleaded guilty. REHEARING GRANTED The Magistrate granted a rehearing of a charge against Klaus Monschau, aged 36, an electrician, on a charge of stealing a diamond ring, valued at £5O, the property of Mary Galbraith Smith, on or about January 31. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded on bail to March 31. SHIP DESERTER Alfred Johnson, aged 35, a seaman, was remanded on bail under the provisions of the Shipping and Seamen Act after he had pleaded guilty to a charge of ship desertion at Auckland on November 26. It was stated that Johnson was making an application for permission to stay in New Zealand.

ASSAULTED WIFE Joseph Carl Taiepa, aged 28. a sawmill hand (Mr M G. L. Loughnan). was convicted on a charge of assaulting his wife on February 27 and remanded in custody to this afternoon for sentence. He pleaded guilty. SUSPENDED SENTENCE A man. whose name was sup pressed was ordered to come up for sentence within 12 months if called upon and was ordered to pay £lO towards the costs of prosecution when he was convicted on a charge of stealing a book on January 31. He pleaded not guilty and was represented by Mr M. G. L. Loughnan. (Before Mr K. H. J. Headifen, S.M.) FINED £35 Selwyn Maurice Hills, aged 22. a plasterer (Mr G. R. Lascelles), was convicted and fined £35. and was disqualified from driving for three years, when he appeared on a charge of driving on Wakefield avenue, on November 27, while under the influence of drink or drugs. On a further charge of not having a current driver's licence on the same date, he was convicted and fined £5. A third charge of careless use of a motor vehicle was dismissed. Hills, who had pleaded guilty to the charge oi no driver's licence, and not guilty to the other charges, was also ordered to pav witness' expenses of £4. FINED FOR THEFT Charged with theft of goods valued at £2 IDs 2d, the property of the Crusader Shipping Company, on November 20. Charles Henry Macllquhan, aged 25, a waterside worker (Mr B. McClelland), was convicted and fined £5, and was ordered to pay witness’ expenses of £3. He pleaded not .guilty. The Magistrate said that he would fix a nominal penalty because of the possibility that Macllquhan might lose his job. He said that he was satisfied that the accused had not pilfered by breaking open the cargo of the Port Montreal. NO BUILDING PERMIT Charles Emery Louis Field was convicted and fined £2O, and was ordered to pay solicitor's fees of £5 ss. on a charge of

'failing to obtain a building per init on January 21. The Magistrate told Field. whOi was appearing for the fixing lof a penalty, that he had no : alternative but to regard his, iconduct as deliberately obstructive Mr A. Hearn appeared for the Christchurch City Council. (Before Mr E. A. Lee, S.M.) CAR SOLD ILLEGALLY A fine of £3O was imposed on Manchester Car Sales. Ltd., on a charge of failing to comply; with conditions of an import j licence on April 19. 1965. Mr E. 0. Sullivan entered a plea of guilty on behalf of the firm. Mr N. R. Morgan for the Cus-j .toms Department, said a non-; remittance licence had been| granted on June 15, 1964. for the importation of an M.G. 1100 The car arrived in August. 1964' and was subject to the condition that it not be sold within one i year without advising the Customs Department. The car was delivered to the, defendant firm and on April 19. 1965. a Wellington man paid a deposiit on the car and took! delivery of it. The previous! owner was now living permanently in Australia. Mr Sullivan said the firm had intended holding the car until the year was up but a sales man had sold it by mistake. As the year was nearly up the manager of the firm took no action to cancel the sale. Mr Morgan said permission to sell the car would probably lave been granted if the owner had been able to satisfy the department he was leaving New Zealand permanently. SAW UNGUARDED Saying that a machine had been operated for 10 years without attracting the attention of inspectors, the Magistrate dismissed under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice Act a charge of failing to guard a circular saw against R. J. Lowe, Ltd., furniture manufacturers. The defendant pleaded not guilty and was represented by Mr E. 0. Sullivan. OVERTOOK IN TUNNEL Charged with overtaking In ! the Christchurch-Lyttelton road tunnel on December 8. Leicester Grange was fined £5. He •pleaded guilty.