POSED AS A PEER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 274, 19 November 1927, Page 23

POSED AS A PEER.

BOY'S "INORDINATE VANITY."

Regarded as a "model boy" when serving a term of detention at Borstal, Frederick Edgar Oldrey (30), who was sentenced at London. Sessions to three years' penal servitude for a series of fraud and theft offences, was said to have posed as a millionaire, a peer, an old Etonian, a Flying officer, and a titled woman's nephew. He pleaded guilty to stealing a cheque book from Mrs. Eliott Lynn, the airwoman, and stealing a ring, a suitcase, and other articles. He asked that six further charges'of having obtained credit by fraud and attempting to obtain motor cars and other _ goods by false pretences should be taken into consideration.

Dark and handsome, Oldrey was im» maculately dressed. He was introduced to Mrs. Eliott Lynn, said Mr. Montagu, for the prosecution, as Squadron-Leader Stuart.

Detective-Sergeant John Sands said Oldrey was sent to Highbury Industrial School for stealing money when he was under 13. He had ten further convictions, including a term at Borstal, from which he escaped, his last sentence being 23 months' hard labour. He was released in May this year. "Oldrey is a well-spoken man," said Sergeant Sands, "and has educated himself in various establishments in which he has been detained in a wonderful manner. His theoretic knowledge of aviation is remarkable, and he is in a position to converse freely on such matters with persons of many years' experience.

"He was top of his- class in the reformatory, aud was looked upon in Borstal as a model boy, although he lias since proved to be one of their failures. "His own opinion of Borstal is that it is a sink of iniquity, where the lads boast of and compare their various, crimes. "The whole root of the trouble about Oldrey would appear to be his inordinate vanity, as many of his crimes have brought him little gain.

"As far back as 1917 lie was masquerading as an Eton boy, complete with silk bat and suit.

"On one occasion be went to tbe Avro Aviation Company's offices in Piccadilly and negotiated for the purchase of an aeroplane for £785, in which he was given a trial flight from London.

"Oldrey told the pilot that he was a millionaire, and that it did not matter to him whether he spent £700 or 7d. But before they parted company be succeeded in borrowing £2 from tbe airman."

Among other names he assumed was Lord Dudley Stuart. In Liverpool he posed as a nephew of Lady Stuart.