Theft of ornaments from grave upsets

When Brittany Benseman, 10, lost her father, Tony, 15 months ago, she put butterfly, dragonfly and hummingbird-shaped solar-powered lights on his grave so "Daddy wouldn't be lonely in the dark".

However, when Benseman's widow Stephanie visited his Upper Wairau Cemetery grave last week, she discovered that the lights and flowers were missing. Items had also disappeared from the graves of her husband's niece and his sisters.

The theft of the lights has left the pair "absolutely devastated".

"It's devastating to think that someone would stoop so low as to steal from the graves," she said.

Brittany had placed the set of lights on the grave after her father's sudden death. "They illuminated and changed colour at night. She put them up there so her daddy wouldn't be lonely in the dark. She was quite devastated to find out someone had stolen it."

The affected graves were in different places throughout the cemetery.

When she noticed the lights missing, Benseman informed police, who told her there was little they could do without physical evidence.

She has since replaced the lights but has glued them to the headstone.

Marlborough District Council reserves and amenities officer Nic Crous said that the removal of anything in a cemetery by members of the public was "an offence by law". "But it is unfortunately not possible to police a cemetery."

By SIMON WONG - The Press

Last updated 05:00 09/06/2010

SCOTT HAMMOND/The Marlborough Express

DEVASTATED: Stephanie Benseman and daughter Brittany Benseman, 10, who is upset that items have been stolen from her father's grave.

Cannabis grown for personal use

A Blenheim man facing charges of the cultivation and supply of cannabis told the police he used the drug for medicinal purposes.

Farm manager Nigel David Cowper, 26, admitted the charges and was sentenced to three months' community service and nine months' supervision when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday.

An order was also made to destroy the cannabis and equipment.

At a previous court appearance, police said they had searched Cowper's house on April 8 and found a box containing 181 grams of cannabis head and two other boxes containing a total of 902g of cannabis material.

A small tin in the kitchen contained a further 2g.

The police also found a shed with 11 cannabis plants and a homemade bong, and 2g of cannabis was found in Cowper's car.

Judge Tim Broadmore said Cowper "claimed to use it for medicinal purposes" and for his own personal use.

The problem with people using the drug for medicinal purposes was that "they find they have a dependency on it", Judge Broadmore said.

However, there was no evidence Cowper was supplying the drug, despite the number of plants and amount of cannabis found, he said.

Defence lawyer Philip Watson said police confiscated Cowper's firearms licence, which he needed for his job, when firearms were not involved in the crime.

Judge Broadmore said Cowper needed to think about his drug use, especially because he was the father of two children.

"You've got two young kids you need to think about. It's bad for them to grow up with cannabis as a normal part of their environment."

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 09/06/2010

Family 'devastated' by grave thefts

When 10-year-old Brittany Benseman lost her father Tony 15 months ago, she put butterfly, dragonfly and hummingbird-shaped solar-powered lights on his grave so "Daddy wouldn't be lonely in the dark".

However, when Mr Benseman's widow Stephanie visited his Upper Wairau Cemetery grave last week, she discovered that the lights, as well as flowers, were missing.

Items had also disappeared from the graves of her husband's niece and his sisters.

The theft of the lights has left Mrs Benseman and her daughter "absolutely devastated".

"It's devastating to think that someone would stoop so low as to steal from the graves," she said.

Brittany had placed the set of lights on the grave after her father's sudden death.

"They illuminated and changed colour at night. She put them up there so her daddy wouldn't be lonely in the dark. She was quite devastated to find out someone had stolen it. Needless to say, I'm quite angry as well."

The affected graves were in different places throughout the cemetery. Mrs Benseman believes that whoever took the items was "scouring" the grave sites.

She did not know of anyone else who may have had items taken.

When she noticed the lights missing, Mrs Benseman reported the incident to the police, who told her there was little they could do without physical evidence.

Mrs Benseman has since replaced the lights but has glued them to the headstone.

She had also planned to place other mementoes which reminded her of her husband and his love of heavy machinery.

"I was going to put out a little digger and scraper made of metal, but I don't feel I can do that now, because they won't survive there."

Mrs Benseman visits the cemetery two or three times a week and up to four times a day during summer to tend her husband's grave.

"[It's] the only place that I really do get an opportunity to sit down and relax. Nothing else matters when I go up there. It's only me and my husband."

She is urging anyone who has noticed anything missing from the cemetery to report it to the police or the cemetery's board of trustees.

"It's a sacred place and it's sacred to the people that are left behind."

The cemetery is administered by a trust, but no one from the trust could be contacted this morning.

Marlborough District Council reserves and amenities officer Nic Crous said thefts occasionally occurred from council cemeteries, but there was little the council could do about this.

"Removal of anything in a cemetery by members of the public is an offence by law, but it is unfortunately not possible to police a cemetery."

By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:00 08/06/2010

'Blanket Man' AWOL after catching ferry

For a short time, Wellington's colourful street figure "Blanket Man" – aka Ben Hana – was missing.

But Hana was quickly found yesterday – AWOL from his home town – in Blenheim, after hitching a ride on the Bluebridge ferry to see a mate there.

His lawyer Maxine Dixon expressed concern in Wellington District Court yesterday when Hana did not show up for court.

At a hearing last month to determine his fitness to plead to seven charges of cannabis possession and breaching the liquor ban, two psychiatrists had been expected to say he was impaired, but changed their minds.

A fresh report was to be done and a determination to be made of what could happen to him. He could become a patient at a mental health facility.

A friend was sent by Ms Dixon to look at Blanket Man's usual haunts around Courtenay Place when he did not show up, but was unable to find him and he had not been seen since Wednesday, the court heard.

Judge Bruce Davidson issued a warrant for his arrest.

However, at the same time yesterday, Hana was appearing in Blenheim District Court after earlier being arrested on charges of disorderly behaviour and possession of cannabis.

He was freed on bail before authorities in Blenheim learnt of the warrant that had been issued in Wellington.

The Dominion Post

Last updated 05:00 04/06/2010

Capital's Blanket Man finds new 'home'

For a short time, well-known Wellington homeless man Ben Hana, aka Blanket Man, was missing.

But Hana was found yesterday in Blenheim, after hitching a ride on the Bluebridge ferry to see a mate here.

Hana was arrested shortly after disembarking from the ferry yesterday morning, and charged with possessing cannabis and disorderly behaviour on the ferry, Blenheim police said. He was to appear in the Blenheim District Court today.

Hana, who is well-known on the streets of Wellington, was sitting outside the Blenheim courthouse yesterday. He was believed to be waiting for a friend to appear in court.

He was due to appear in the Wellington District Court yesterday, and a warrant for his arrest was issued. His lawyer, Maxine Dixon, had expressed concern when Hana did not show up.

At a hearing last month to determine Hana's fitness to plead to seven charges of cannabis possession and breaching a liquor ban, two psychiatrists had been expected to say he was impaired, but changed their minds. A fresh report was to be done and a determination made on what could happen to him. He could become a patient at a mental health facility.

A friend checked Hana's usual haunts around Courtenay Place after he did not show up at court, but was unable to find him, and he had not been seen since Wednesday, the court heard. Judge Bruce Davidson issued a warrant for his arrest.

Meanwhile, Hana was sitting across from the Blenheim courthouse, wrapped in his blanket and listening to music.

When approached by The Marlborough Express, Hana made it clear that he did not want to be interviewed.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 04/06/2010

Blanket Man mystery solved

The mystery of Wellington icon Blanket Man's recent Blenheim excursion has been solved.

A friend of Blanket Man, Richard Hayden from Blenheim paid for his ticket on the Bluebridge ferry from Wellington to Picton in what is believed to be Blanket Man's, real name Ben Hana, first trip to the South Island.

Hayden was arrested for breaching his curfew shortly after the pair disembarked the vessel in Picton in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The pair were then brought to the Blenheim District Court where Hayden appeared for breaching bail.

While sitting outside the court house waiting for Mr Hayden, Blanket Man was arrested for cannabis possession, disorderly behaviour and failing to appear in the Wellington District Court on June 3.

Hana appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday and was remanded in custody to appear in the Wellington District Court on June 11.

A policeman made a special delivery of dark blue overalls for Hana, who prefers to wear only a blanket and loin cloth, to wear when he appeared before Justice of the Peace Julie McKendry.

Hana however opted to wear his blanket, but wore the overalls around his neck.

It is understood he may be flown back to Wellington.

BY SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 14:15 04/06/2010