Alexandra District Court

AN Alexandra cafe manager who stole more than $24,000 from his employer used some of it for ‘‘luxuries’’.

But the true extent of Marley Dale Ferguson’s offending was not known, Judge Michael Turner was told in the Alexandra District Court yesterday.

Ferguson (23), was convicted of theft by a person in a special relationship between July 1 and September 11.

Ferguson had been manager at Cafe Rossi, in Alexandra, for two and ahalf years when the business changed hands in June 2018. He was kept on in the role, which included cashing up the till.

In August this year it was noticed an ‘‘unusually large number’’ of credits, ranging from $20 to $358, were being refunded on the days Ferguson worked, prosecutor Tim Hambleton said.

Surveillance camera footage showed Ferguson ringing up credits, taking cash to the office, then putting it in his pocket.

Ferguson said he initially took money to help pay bills, but later used it to ‘‘live his life with extra luxuries’’.

Reparation of $24,978 was sought, but Ferguson had not kept track of how much he took, Mr Hambleton said.

Ferguson was remanded until December 11 for sentencing.

Failed to assist injured

An Alexandra man who failed to render assistance to two children injured when he crashed his car has been sentenced to 400 hours’ community work.

Antony William Partridge had been driving the car with the 12 and 13yearolds in the back seat and his partner in the front seat, in Alexandra, on May 25.

He was speeding on a rough track and lost control of the car, which crashed into a tree. One child suffered bruising and leg tenderness; the other had whiplash and neck tenderness.

Both children ran from the scene and Partridge and his partner drove off, failing to look for or check on the children, Judge Turner said.

Partridge hid the car by the river, but was later found by police with a breathalcohol reading of 383mcg.

Judge Turner said Partridge’s behaviour was ‘‘reprehensible’’.

On two counts of careless driving causing injury, and one of failing to render assistance, Partridge was also sentenced to nine months’ supervision and disqualified from driving for one year and one day.

Warning over addiction

A man who drove drunk with three children in his car was told he was at risk of being killed by his alcohol addiction.

Jan Hermanus Campher (43), of Cromwell, was convicted of driving with an excess breathalcohol level of 227mg, nearly five times the legal limit (his third or subsequent such conviction), in Cromwell, on February 16.

Judge Turner said Campher’s alcohol addiction was ‘‘literally killing’’ him, causing recent health issues but he deserved credit for now tackling his addiction.

Campher was sentenced to three months’ community detention, 12 months’ intensive supervision and subject to alcohol interlock provisions, and ordered to pay $157 medical and analyst’s

Stole gift vouchers

A 45yearold man took more than $1200 from his Roxburgh employer by stealing gift vouchers and exchanging them for cash and to buy petrol.

Reece Lyall Davison, of Alexandra, had worked as a forecourt attendant at Robbs Garage, mainly unsupervised.

On July 25 an accounts supervisor noticed a discrepancy in the previous day’s takings. CCTV footage showed Davison making three purchases with MTA vouchers and taking change.

Further audits showed large discrepancies between the number of vouchers sold and what was in the till.

Between June 5 and July 27 Davison had made 50 purchases using $1290 of vouchers, Mr Hambleton said.

Davison was remanded until February 5 for sentencing on one charge of theft.

Other convictions

● Brayden Shaun Couper (21), engineer, of Alexandra, two counts of intentional damage (broke a glass coffee table, punched holes in a wall) and one of threatening to intimidate, Alexandra, September 13; 70 hours’ community work, $100 reparation, $400 emotional harm reparation.

● Kelvin Thomas James Blondell (19), farmhand, of Alexandra, theft of $131.61 of petrol from Caltex Alexandra, August 4; $132 reparation, nine months’ supervision.

● Andrew John Reid (30), contractor, of Clyde, drinkdriving, 717mcg, Omakau, October 5; fined $720, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

● Cameron William Johnston (27), driver, of Teviot, drinkdriving, 655mcg, Roxburgh, October 13; fined $660, court costs $130, disqualified six months.

● Gareth Byron Lange (36), orchard worker, of Bannockburn, driving while disqualified, Cromwell, August 12; 75 hours’ community work.

● Eddie Tuauri Matenga (27), shearer, of Alexandra, driving while disqualified, Alexandra, September 7; 75 hours’ community work.