Four jailed for fire station burglary

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 8, Issue 383, 23 April 1991, Page 9

Four jailed for fire station burglary

The following cases were heard in the Ohakune District Court last week by Judge Toomey of Palmerston North. Police Sergeant Bob Evans of Ohakune and Senior Sergeant Kevin Powell of Taihape appeared for the Police prosecution. Traffic officer Ian Harrison of Ohakune appeared for the Ministry of Transport. Four jailed. Clayton Shane Locke, 25, Vernon Leslie McLeod, 22, Darryl Wayne Pickery,21, and Debbie Ida Elizabeth Marie Taingahue,22, each received sentences of imprisonment for their involvement in the burglary of the Ohakune Fire Station on 22 February. The three male defendants, Locke, McLeod and Pickery were each sentenced to 3 months in prison and ordered to make reparation for the liquor, cash and rescue equipment stolen in the burglary of the fire station. The female defendant, Taingahue, who was unable to make reparation because of her financial situation and who also committed a burglary of the Cedar Service Station on the same night, was jailed for 4 months. All four defendants

had earlier pleaded guilty to breaking into the Ohakune fire station in order to replenish supplies for a party they were attending at a nearby dwelling. In reviewing the case Judge Toomey told the court that while the group had apologised to the local volunteer firemen, the latter were unwilling to accept their apology because the theft of firefighting and rescue equipment could have had life-threaten-ing consequences within the community. "They think the safety service of the community were put in jeopardy by your actions", said Judge Toomey. A total of $1912 was sought in respect of reparation. Judge Toomey said that all three male defendants had previous convictions and a number of alternative non-custo-dial sentences had already been tried without success. The reports also indicated that all the defendants had either drug or alcohol problems. "Each of you will now suffer a short, sharp custodial sentence to bring home to you that

your constant offending must cease," he said. In addition to the 3 month jail sentences, the three male defendants were each ordered to pay reparation of $478. The female defendant, Debbie Taingahue, who had also earlier pleaded guilty to the theft of property valued at $597 from the Cedar Service Station, was convicted and jailed for 4 months. The defendant Locke, who had earlier pleaded guilty to the possession of cannabis seeds, was convicted and sentenced to 7 days imprisonment on this charge. Mr Paul Brown appeared for the defendants Locke, McLeod and Pickery. Mr Brian Mason appeared as counsel for Taingahue. Several charges Riki Martin Surton,31, unemployed of Ohakune, appeared on a variety of charges including three of driving while disqualified, two charges of receiving, one of driving with excess blood alcohol, one of careless use of a motor vehicle causing injury, one of fitting illegal registration plates to a vehicle and one of causing intentional damage to police property while being held in police cells. Defendant had been disqualified from driving for one year in mid1990 but was seen driving on 18 March, 24 March and again on 27 March.

He also pleaded guilty to receiving property including two sheepskin car-seat covprs, two car stereo radio speakers, one car radio and one car battery holder (total value $630) from Michael Hunnam. A second receiving charge involved a load binder from Rangitikei Steel Craft in Bulls valued at $100. This property was later found in the defendant's house. The charge relating to driving with excess blood alcohol occurred on the Bulls River Road on 10 February and the charge of careless diving causing injury occurred on the same date and at the same place. The wilful damage charge to Police property resulted from defendant ripping up a mattress, breaking a toilet cistern and damaging the protective cover over a wall-mounted heater while he was being held in custody at the police station. He was convicted and remanded on all charges and ordered to reside at his home on the main road at Rangataua until his next appearance in the Ohakune District Court on 17 May for a

probation officers report and sentence. In ordering defendant not to drive a motor vehicle in the meantime, Judge Toomey warned Surton that "if you want to spend some time in custody I suggest you drive past the Ohakune police station". Counsel; Paul Brown. Assault A 56 -year old farmer was convicted and remanded to appear in the Palmerston North District Court for a probation officers report and sentence on 21 May on a charge of assaulting a female in a domestically related incident on 8 March. More Court news next 1 week