Dud Cheques Buy Thousands Of Dollars Of Comfort (Press, 4 August 1977)

On 4 August 1977, a series of cases were addressed in the local Magistrate's Court. A 21-year-old woman was remanded to 17 August after facing 14 charges of false pretence amounting to over $3470. She reportedly acquired electrical equipment, cassette players, groceries, air travel, and clothing from Christchurch stores using false cheques. The magistrate, Mr B. A. Palmer, S.M., highlighted the seriousness of the charges and granted bail set at $750, alongside a surety of the same amount and a requirement for daily reporting. The woman's name was suppressed due to medical evidence presented by her counsel. In another case, Euan Douglas Lyall, a 27-year-old opossum hunter, was convicted and fined $440 for possessing six detonators and cannabis. Lyall pleaded guilty to both charges after being stopped by police on 11 July. During the stop, evidence of cannabis possession emerged, leading to a subsequent search of his home that uncovered the detonators. Although his defence maintained that the detonators were used for work purposes and that he possessed cannabis for personal use, the magistrate expressed concern over the dangerous nature of detonators and the need for strict regulation. Additionally, Kevin Warren Tapley-Bell, a 21-year-old head waiter, was fined $200 for frequenting a public toilet with felonious intent. He admitted to being homosexual and sought a connection there. The magistrate concluded that the observed behaviours indicated frequenting, despite the defence's argument that only one visit occurred. Kim Christine Prangnell was released on probation for 12 months after pleading guilty to being idle and disorderly. Found with only 12 cents while in a flat with others, her counsel argued she was merely a visitor. The magistrate remarked on her prior unemployment but noted improvements in her circumstances, suggesting the charge was more a cry for help than an indication of serious criminal activity. Lastly, Peter George Hoffman, a 19-year-old insurance representative, was sentenced to five months of periodic detention and 17 months of probation after pleading guilty to 52 charges of credit fraud and false pretence. These offences, committed between April 12 and June 12, saw Hoffman issue cheques without sufficient funds, obtaining a total of $1120. His sister offered to lend him the amount required for restitution, prompting the magistrate to acknowledge the unusual nature of Hoffman's “burst of offending.”

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