EQUIPMENT STOLEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 290, 7 December 1944, Page 6

EQUIPMENT STOLEN

AIR FORCE STATION FOUR MEN PUNISHED Arising out' of a series of thefts of motor car tyres and other equipment from Ardmore Air Force Station, four members of the ground i staff were sentenced in the Supreme Court by Mr. Justice Fair to-day to varying periods of imprisonment. I They were Bernard Whiting, aged 45, Thomas Melville Petry, aged 29, John Raymond Petry, aged 24, and ! Arthur Davies, aged 29, who had ! admitted the theft of material valued at about £290. On the prisoners' behalf, Mr. Aekins said Whiting had served in the last war, and had three sons j serving at the present time. The other three had served overseas, and were due to go overseas again. s Counsel said the thefts had been committed when the men were under j the influence of liquor, and he made ' a plea that they be given the opportunity for further service. His Honor said in this instance the Court had the painful duty of having to send to gaol men who had served their country. They had been given a thorough training, generous pay and excellent conditions, and their conduct had been disgraceful in robbing and crippling the force. Whiting : would be sentenced to 12 months' i imprisonment, as also would Thomas Petry. Davies would be sentenced to ;12 months' reformative detention, j and the younger Petry to nine ' months' reformative detention.