YOUTHS ASTRAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 151, 29 June 1939, Page 13

YOUTHS ASTRAY.

STOLEN CAR-RIDES.

TERM OF PROBATION.

JUDGE'S SECOND THOUGHTS,

"This is another case of converting cars, an offence which has been coming before the Court with increasing frequency," said Mr. V. R. Meredith, Crown Prosecutor, when tw;o young men, Athol Richard Lewis Rusden (20) and David Allen Ralph (17), came before Mr. Justice Fair in the Supreme Court to-day for sentence on five charges of converting motor cars, while Rusden also admitted forgery and uttering of a cheque. "In one car Rusden found a cheque book and forged a cheque for £205." added Mr. Meredith. "Had it not been for the promptitude of the police a very heavy loss would have fallen on the bank teller who cashed the cheque." Strong Plea for Chance. Mr. Goldstine, for Rusden, and Mr. Aekins, for Ralph, made a strong plea for the prisoners being given a chance to rehabilitate themselves without having to suffer imprisonment for the series of offences, which had occurred all within a brief period, and were first offences. The cars, it was said, were driven away until the petrol supply gave out, and were then abandoned. Stressing the aspect that every case which came before the Court for sentence had to be decided on its own facts in relation to the offences committed, his Honor said this matter had given him a great deal of thought, for the reason that he could not at first see the interests of the community served except by imposing imprisonment. However, he had decided, taking into account the youth and character of the prisoners, who had apparently committed the offences in a spirit of sheer irresponsibility, and the fact that the cars converted had not been wantonly damaged, that the prisoners should be placed on probation for three years. Among other conditions imposed would be one that Rusden and Ralph should have no driving license granted to them for 12 months, and that during the period of probation they should not associate with each other, unless with the consent of both parents and the probation officer. A request for an order that the names be not published was met by his Honor with a statement that he thought it quite proper that the names should be published.