Smash-and-grab raids to pay for drugs

Press, 7 April 1979, Page 4

Smash-and-grab raids to pay for drugs

A self-employed signwriter was sent to prison for three years when he appeared for sentence on three charges of burglary before Mr D. B. Pain, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The Magistrate told Bruce Maxwell Taylor, aged 27, that it was no comfort to the community to be told that the burglaries had been committed to pay for the defendant’s heroin habit. What made the offences worse was that they were committed within three months of Taylor’s being released from prison where he

• had spent 16 months for substantial criminal activity. The police had said that ' an estimated $50,000 worth . of property had been stolen in smash-and-grab raids in Christchurch in the last year, : said the Magistrate. “In my view a deterrent sentence is called for,” the Magistrate said. The offences related to smash-and-grab raids on Kennetts Jewellers on Janu- ; ary 12; the Sydenham Photo- ; graphic Centre on January 24; and Pan Pacific Cameras, New Brighton, on February ; 21. As a result of the raids, property to a total value of $7289 had been taken of which only $7OO worth had been recovered. The total amount of damage to the three properties was $3OO. Compensation of $6889 had been sought from the defendant, who had earlier been convicted of the charges. Counsel (Mr M. F. McClelland) said most of the defendant’s criminal activity since 1976 had been committed because of his addiction to heroin. Mr McCLelland said Tay-

lor had now “kicked” this,! habit which had been cost-1 ing him about $lOO a day. Taylor, he said, was of an artistic nature being both a ; signwriter and a tattooist. On his release from a cus- ; todial sentence Taylor in- ■ tended to pay compensation in full, said' Mr McClelland. , ARSON CHARGE A governing director ac- s cused of wilfully setting fire 1 • to a house in Thorneycroft' • Street in January was re-H manded to May 24 for theh taking of depositions. ;< The man, aged 48, is alleged to have wilfully set < fire to the house, together with a person or persons unknown, on January 2. The defendant was granted: continued interim suppression of .his name. He was allowed bail of $l5OO. CHARGES DENIED Three employees of the Christchurch-Lyttelton Road Tunnel Authority arrested for trespassing in the authority’s building on March 29 have each denied the charges. Raymond lan McDonald, aged 47, and George Alan McDonald, aged 51, both tunnel officers, and Alan Gardner, aged 58, a tunnel supervisor, were each re-

itnanded at large to May 28 ' for a defended hearing. I SIX CHARGES I Christopher Bernard Male, aged 20, unemployed, was remanded on bail ’of $l5OO to April 12 without plea on six charges. Male is alleged to have used heroin on April 5, had cannabis leaf in his possession; possessed cannabis ’ seeds; posession of a needle and syringe; without lawful excuse had Tuinal in his possession; and possession of Seconal. These five charges occurred on April 6.