KEY POINTS:
Chief District Court Judge Russell Johnson was left pondering the handyman capabilities of Canterbury women after hearing about a theft charge today.
Chantelle Jane Hurrell and Michaela Eileen Rentoul, both 18, unemployed, and flatting together in St Albans, were apparently in need of some cash.
Four times, they went to the Richmond Workingmen's Club in London Street, picked up six empty beer kegs belonging to New Zealand Breweries and loaded them into their car.
At home, they cut them up with a grinder and sold them to scrap metal dealers, Christchurch Court News website reports.
The kegs were worth $1200, but as scrap they fetched only $236.
The pair pleaded guilty to the theft charge in Christchurch District Court today and defence counsel Gilbert Hay said they accepted the police's summary of facts.
But Chief Judge Johnson, who is visiting Christchurch, wondered if there might be something more to it, before he remanded them on bail to August 7 for a probation report and sentence.
"I have a picture in my mind of these two young women heaving barrels around and using a grinder to cut them up. It sounds to me like the hand of a male behind the scenes."
Police prosecutor Al Manco assured him that the police were not making further inquiries nor looking for anyone else.
"Oh well, it's Canterbury I suppose," said the Chief Judge.
- NZPA
