Drove Car Into Crowd

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31079, 7 June 1966, Page 3

Drove Car Into Crowd

(N.Z. Press Association)

AUCKLAND, June 6.

Two youths accused of driving up and down the footpath in Queen street at 7 p.m. on Saturday, scattering theatre crowds, appeared before Mr H. Jenner Wily, S.M., today.

Detective-Sergeant E. R. Hutchinson said Graham Warren Paul, aged 21, a tiler, and Lee Alexander Tait, aged 20, a moulder, had driven their car about 15 m.p.h. down both sides of the footpath between the St. James

Theatre and Durham street. Theatregoers were forced to jump out of the way to avoid

being knocked down, Mr Hutchinson said. Tait, the passenger in the car, had to be forcibly removed from it by the police. After struggling with constables who got him into a police car, he broke away and had to be subdued again. When Paul, the driver, was approached, he held out a bottle of beer and invited the constable to have a drink. Paul violently resisted arrest and fought, slightly injuring one constable. He had to be restrained at the police station, until taken to a cell, Mr Hutchinson said. Several people had tried unsuccessfully to stop the car. Paul admitted resisting a

constable, assaulting a constable, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and driving a vehicle without a warrant of fitness. He was convicted on all charges and remanded in custody until June 13 for sentence.

“It’s obvious gaol is the only place for you,” said the Magistrate. Tait admitted obstructing a constable and resisting a constable. He was fined £l2 10s, with costs, on each charge.

The Court was told that 10 empty and 10 full beer bottles had been found in the car when it stopped just south of Victoria street.

"I guess I was drunk,” Tait said.