Prison for total of 94 offences

Press, 24 January 1986, Page 7

Prison for total of 94 offences

An Auckland man, earlier convicted of 94 offences involving property and services totalling $6270, was sent to prison for nine months. In the District Court yesterday Judge McAloon told Anthony Peter Neilson that it would be inappropriate to consider a sentence of periodic detention.

Neilson’s offending, “numerically incredible,” was on a grand scale, said the Judge. One of the victims had been Neilson’s father, who had provided him with accommodation and assistance, the Judge said.

He said the fact someone got close to the defendant to help him did not seem to protect them from his financial ambitions. The offences, admitted by Neilson, aged 20, a driver (Mrs D. M. Shirtcliff), comprised mainly the theft of cheques and bankcards to obtain goods and services at Auckland, several other North Island centres, and in Christchurch late last year.

Mrs Shirtcliff said her client had an unsettled background. He was confused as to why he offended, and tendered his apologies to the Court. If he should be sentenced to periodic detention, she said, Neilson had a job and accommodation arranged by his father. He was also keen to repay the $4082 compensation sought. DETENTION Five months periodic detention, and the payment of $3169 compensation, was the sentence imposed on a man who stole 1124 kg of gunmetal from his employer. Paul Fergus Kaye, aged 40, had earlier admitted stealing the scrap gunmetal while working as a furnaceman at the Canterbury Engineering Company.

The stealing took place between August and December last year. Kaye told the police he received $1405 for the metal from a scrap dealer.

The Judge said it was in recognition of the defendant’s 22 years of troublefree living that periodic detention, rather than imprisonment, would be the sentence. WOUNDING CHARGE

Bail was strongly opposed for a man charged in connection with a stabbing incident at the Hillsborough Tavern last week. Dean Noble, aged 18, a shearer, was charged with wounding Selwyn Warren Waaka with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm on January 16. Bail was refused by the Judge and Noble was remanded in custody to January 30. Sergeant B. N. Thompson opposed bail because of the seriousness of the charge, and because the alleged offence took place while the defendant was already on bail. A duty solicitor, Mr A. W. R. Lee, said he had been instructed to seek bail. Two sureties were available.

In all probability, he said, the accused would deny the charge, claiming possible self defence. Waaka was reported to be in a comfortable condition in hospital yesterday.