Criminal escapade involved $24,035

Press, 24 June 1983, Page 21

Criminal escapade involved $24,035

An unemployed driver, who obtained goods and services to a total value of $24,035, had embarked on a “premeditated and flagrant” criminal escapade, said Sergeant G. G. Cleland in the District Court yesterday. Clinton Duane Hallam, aged 33 (Mr K. N. Hampton) who admitted 19 charges of false pretence, two of using a document to obtain a financial advantage, and one of forgery, was convicted by Judge Fogarty. He was remanded in custody to June 30 for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant Cleland said that in March the defendant had put deposits in two branches of a bank and had then issued about 60 cheques far in excess of the amounts lodged in the accounts. The charges laid against Hallam represented only 22 of the most serious complaints received by the police. Sergeant Cleland said that the defendant had hired a truck and purchased truck-loads of cut-price liquor which he had then driven to Nelson where he had sold it to publicans and others.

Hallam had issued valueless cheques for the liquor ranging from $2624 to $5189. The bulk of payments received by the defendant, in cash and cheques, were retained by him and not banked.

On April 26 the defendant had obtained 540 dozen bottles of beer which was uplifted without being paid for from a yard some distance away from the hotel involved.

This consignment had been taken to Nelson and sold.

Hallam had made regular trips to Nelson obtaining fuel, tyres and other accessories from service stations.

He had also bought a vehicle in Christchurch for $l9OO and had, on threee occasions, obtained air tickets for himself and a girl friend by using valueless cheques, said Sergeant Cleland.

Liquor, valued at $2300, had been recovered by the police.

Hallam offered no explanation when arrested. Sergeant Cleland said that the circumstances represented a particularly serious series of offences. Hallam had gained the

confidence of a variety of persons and in spite of having repaid a total of about $2600 to some complainants this had only been achieved as a result of considerable pressure from those concerned.

The premeditated and flagrant escapade by the defendant had resulted in considerable financial loss by the complainants. Hallam, said Sergeant Cleland, was not in a position to repay any of the money he had obtained. INJURY CHARGE A labourer, charged that with intent to cause grievous bodily harm he injured David George Schofield, was remanded to appear in the District Court at Rangiora on July 20. Michael John Gillespie, aged 26 (Mr G. R. Lascelles) was allowed bail of $2OOO. The charge relates to a motoring incident at Rangiora on June 20. BOAT OFFENCE A bus driver who admitted receiving a 12ft jet boat, motor, and trailer, valued at $2500, was convicted and remanded at large to July 7 for a probation report and sentence.

Gordon James McConnachie, aged 25 (Mr D. J. Taffs) committed the offence at Kaiapoi about February 4, last year. Sergeant Cleland said that the jet boat, engine, and trailer were stolen in Christchurch on January 19, 1982.

About February 4, last year, the defendant bought the unit for $l5OO from two unknown men in a hotel car park. The defendant said that he sold it for $l9OO four months later. BAIL REMAND

Two persons arrested as a result of the activities of an undercover policeman in Christchurch in the last 11 months were each convicted of offences and remanded on bail to July 7 for probation reports and sentence. John Richard Lord, aged 25, unemployed (Mr K. J. Grave), admitted receiving property, worth $3OO, and selling cannabis. Sergeant Cleland said that on December 11, last year, the defendant met the plainclothes officer and arranged to sell the items, gauges, hoses and acetylene torches, the property of the Heathcote County Council, for $lOO.

Lord again met the police officer at a working men’s club and agreed to supply him with cannabis. In the car park he handed over a plastic bag to the constable, for which he was paid $BO, said Sergeant Cleland. The material weighed 9.1 grams and contained cannabis resin. Annemarie Helen Theresa Clarke, aged 24, a housewife (Mr D. J. Taffs) was convicted of selling the undercover officer 12 cannabis “bullets” for $lBO, on September 7, 1982. The defendant, who admitted the charge, said in explanation that at the time she was “broke” and needed money to pay debts. She was now remorseful, and had been co-operative with the police. SIX MONTHS JAIL A drug user convicted of burgling the Somerfield Pharmacy because “he knew he would need something in the next few hours” was sent to prison for six months. The Judge told Neil Anthony Fallow, aged 21 (Mr W. Rosenberg), that burglaries of pharmacies in Chirstchurch were extremely prevalent. Notwithstanding that Fallow was a first offender the only way to deal with the matter was for the imposition of a fully custodial sentence. Nothing was taken from the pharmacy as the defendant made off after hearing a noise.

He was arrested several streets away. Mr Rosenberg said that the burglary was carried out in an unskilled manner. It was out of character and was committed only because Fallow was under severe pressure because of the premature discontinuation of a drug withdrawal programme, said Mr Rosenberg. PERIODIC DETENTION A man earlier convicted of unlawfully taking 10 cars, to a total value of $16,300, over a three-day period for “joy-riding,” was sentenced to periodic detention for five months. Roger Graham Perry, aged 21, unemployed, had admitted committing the offences, with an associate, between May 20 and 23. The associate also a first offender, was earlier sentenced to eight months periodic detention.