Home detention for ‘amateur’ effort to pass counterfeit banknotes
A Christchurch man’s “amateur” effort to use photocopied $20 notes at a supermarket has earned a home detention sentence.
Glenn Stephen Bielawski, 31, tried to pay for $65 worth of groceries with four forged banknotes at the Pak-n-Save supermarket at Westfield Riccarton on August 13, 2013.
The notes were identified as counterfeit by supermarket staff and Bielawski was confronted and the police were called.
“It was an amateur attempt and certain to be discovered,” said Christchurch District Court Judge Raoul Neave at Bielawski’s sentencing in the Christchurch District Court.
Bielawski had admitted the charge of possessing the forged banknotes, as well as a charge of obtaining a set of car tyres by deception, unlawful possession of a shotgun and ammunition, and assaulting his partner with intent to injure in an incident in January this year.
Judge Neave said he had choked his partner in an incident that showed “an unnecessary and unacceptable level of violence and aggression”.
Defence counsel Andrew Bailey said Bielawski had been the earner for the family. He had been held in custody since the January 5 incident – the equivalent of a three-month jail term. He would be able to return to driving work once he was released.
“All parties are anxious for him to be released from custody as soon as possible,” said Mr Bailey.
Judge Neave said Bielawski had no history of violence but he was concerned that his offending showed an entrenched pattern of dishonesty was developing.
He had used a false purchasing order in a company’s name to obtain the tyres. When a search warrant was executed at his address, a 12-gauge shotgun and 22 shells were found in the ceiling cavity of the garage. Bielawski had no firearms licence.
Judge Neave jailed him for six weeks for the assault so that he will be released immediately after his time in custody on remand, and imposed six months of home detention for the other offences. He ordered the destruction of the shotgun and ammunition and ordered him to pay reparation of $1877.
Category: Focus
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