Magistrate's Covrt False Pretences, Possession Of... (Press, 4 December 1964)

On 4 December 1964, a range of legal cases were discussed in the Magistrate's Court, illustrating various offences including firearms possession, fraud, burglary, and shoplifting. Dennis Patrick John Rogers, a 25-year-old unemployed clerk, pleaded guilty to possessing a loaded .22 rifle without lawful authority and to charges of false pretences regarding a vehicle purchase amounting to £1417. He was found with the rifle after a traffic officer stopped his car, and it was revealed that the vehicle was bought with cheques he knew would bounce. Rogers was remanded on bail to be sentenced on 10 December 1964. Eighteen-year-old Michael Paul Stone, described as a hairdresser, received 18 months of probation for being idle and disorderly while wearing women's clothing. The Magistrate noted his behaviour was influenced by possible personality disorders and ordered him to seek medical treatment. Leslie Frederick Vintiner, a 19-year-old unemployed youth, faced multiple theft charges involving a burglary in Methven where clothing and a cash register were stolen from a shop. After detectives found the stolen goods in his flat, Vintiner admitted to the offences and was remanded on bail for sentencing later that month. Andrew Byrnes, a 45-year-old sales manager, was fined £40 and disqualified from driving for three years after being caught driving under the influence of alcohol. His case exemplified the ongoing issues of impaired driving during that time. Three young men, John Russell Achilles, Maurice Arthur Cumming, and George William Wilson, were convicted of stealing a turkey valued at £4, which they chased down intending to eat for Christmas. Each was fined £3, and the nature of their offence was considered relatively trivial given the circumstances. Several others faced charges ranging from trespassing to theft. For instance, Frederick Edward Cribbett received a fine for trespassing at his mother-in-law’s property while under the influence of alcohol. Furthermore, 67-year-old Stanley Edward Beckett was remanded for stealing a wallet. In a more severe instance, Norman Sinclair, a 42-year-old timber worker with a criminal past of indecent assault, was sentenced to four years in prison due to his record when pleading guilty to similar charges involving a mentally retarded boy. The court also handled cases involving shoplifting, such as that of Marie Ellis Baken, who admitted to stealing goods over the course of several weeks, and Carol Maren Whaitiri, who was fined for theft of children’s clothing and a toothbrush. Overall, the court session showcased a range of criminal activities and the judicial responses to maintain societal order, alongside interventions aimed at rehabilitation for certain offenders.

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