Burglary charges

Press, 5 July 1983, Page 4

Burglary charges

An industrial chemist who had been charged with two counts of burglary, faced 15 further burglary charges and one charge of theft when he appeared before Judge Fraser, in the District Court yesterday. Myles Edward Bedggood, aged 33 (Mr G. D. Horne) did not plead to the charges and was further remanded on bail of $6500 to July 11. However, Mr Horne indicated that guilty pleas would be entered to most of the charges. The police alleged that Bedggood broke and entered 17 Christchurch business premises during the last 12 months and stole a pump from Swim Joy Products, Ltd. WHEELCHAIR OFFENCE When asked why he obtained a wheelchair by false pretence Donald Thomas Cholmondelley, a beneficiary, aged 38 (Mrs P. M. Fee) told the police that he wanted to buy one for his invalid mother but could not afford it. Seargent G. G. Cleland said that the wheelchair was valued at $6Bl. Cholmondelley pleaded guilty and was convicted and remanded on bail of $750 to July 18 for probation report and sentence. DEFENDED HEARING A retired man denied being in charge of a .22 carbine rifle at Christchurch on June 26 while being under the influence of alcohol to the extent that he was unable to have proper control of it. Eric Thornberry, aged 56 (Mr P. M. James) was remanded at large to July 29 for a defended hearing. An unemployed man who sold cannabis plant to a plain clothes constable told the police that he had done it only because he thought

the constable was his friend and he needed the money.

The constable was working in the Christchurch community to gain evidence against those involved in criminal activity. Sergent Cleland told the Court that James Phillip Baggstrom, aged 30 (Mr D. J. Taffs) sold cannabis to the constable on three occasions — November 20 and twice on January 14.

He pleaded guilty to three charges of selling the drug and was remanded on $l5OO bail to July 18 for a probation report and sentence. SHOP THEFTS

A Queenstown woman and her daughter appeared for sentence on charges of stealing goods worth more than $3OO from shops at the Riccarton Mall on June 16.

Linda June Bevin, aged 26, had pleaded guilty to two charges of theft, and as the Judge believed she had been influenced by her mother to some degree he convicted and ordered her to come up for sentence in 12 months if called upon. The Judge said that such a sentence was inappropriate for June Noeline Bevin, unemployed, aged 48, who faced four charges, and he further remanded her on renewed bail to appear in the District Court at Alexandra on July 26.

Neither defendants was represented. BURGLARIES

Mr Taffs told the Court that Anthony Titirangi Ross, unemployed, aged 23, did not plan the burglaries of two Christchurch dwellings on May 2 and 10 and committed the crimes in the company of more experienced offenders.

Ross pleaded guilty to charges of breaking and entering a Haast Street house on May 2 from which

goods to the value of $2258 were taken, and a Geraldine Street flat on May 10 from which $7OO worth of goods were taken. He was convicted and remanded on $l5OO bail with a surety for $l5OO to July 18 for a probation report and sentence. He pleaded not guilty to a charge of intentional damage and was remanded to July 26 for a hearing of this charge. Sergeant Cleland said the police were continuing with their enquiries to locate Ross’s co-offenders. BAIL REMAND

Alexander George Cooper, a storeman, aged 20, did not plead to a charge of breaking and entering the shop premises of the Farmers Trading Company, Ltd, at Northlands Mall on Sunday. He was remanded to appear again next Monday and bail was set at $750.

Brian Cyril Hoare, unemployed, aged 30, did not enter a plea to a charge of unlawfully being found in the shop premises of the Farmers Trading Company on Sunday, and he was also remanded to next Monday. THEFT Ms F. B. Bolwell told the Court that Marlene Gay Morrell, a computer operator, aged 18, could offer no real reason for stealing money totalling $752 from her employer, G.U.S. Wholesalers, Ltd, between January 24 and May 31. However, she had overcommitted herself financially. Morrell appeared for sentence on the charge and was ordered to perform 60 hours community service and released on probation for 12 months. Ms Bblwell said that Morrell regretted the offences and had lost her job which was a penalty in itself.