TOOK FOUR CARS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 84, 10 April 1945, Page 6

TOOK FOUR CARS

EX-SOLDIER IN COURT

PROBATION REFUSED Charges of unlawfully converting to his own use three motor cars valued at £650, on March 27, and one car worth £350 on March 20, were brought against Donald McDonald (27), a labourer, when he appeared before Mr. J. Morling, S.M., in the Police Court to-day. Mr. K. C. Aekins represented McDonald, who pleaded guilty. Detective-Sergeant Aplin said that about 5 p.m. on March 27 a motor car went out of control while being driven along Selvvyn Road, Howick, crashed through a fence and turned over. McDonald was found lying on the floor of the car in a dazed condition. He was attended by a doctor and later arrested. When seen by Detective H. E. Wilson he admitted the four offences. McDonald took one car from the city, but abandoned it in Remuera Road and took another, which he drove to Ellerslie, where he took another car. While driving this car he met with the accident in Howick. The car was damaged to the extent of £200. A wharf labourer, who had been earning between £6 and £7 a week, McDonald, said Mr. Aplin, was married and had two children. He had several previous convictions and in October last had come before the Supreme Court for breaking and entering a counting house, shop-breaking, church-break-ing and theft, and had been admitted to three years' probation. Detective-Sergeant Aplin stressed the prevalence of conversion offences and mentioned the inconvenience and expense caused to car owners. "A Legacy of the War" "This man is what one might term a legacy from the present war," Mr. Aekins said. "He enlisted and left with the Third Echelon and at Sidi Rezegh he was wounded in the neck, head, face, hands and hip, being invalided back to New Zealand in 3942." Counsel added that a piece of shrapnel had recently been removed from McDonald's throat. He still had a piece of shrapnel in his head. Because of the nature of his work on the wharves he had broken hours and much leisure time on his hands. Unfortunately he had been drinking and this had undoubtedly affected him because of his physical condition. While Mr. Aekins admitted that McDonald had been given a number of chances previously he appealed for a further period of probation and suggested that one of the conditions should be thai; he went to work in the country. "Before he left for the war McDonald committed a serious offence for which he was granted probation," said the magistrate. ''Since his return he has committed further offences and was again admitted to probation. He seems to have a disregard for other people's property. For the sake of society he must have some punishment this time. However-, I will take into account his war service and injuries and will not make the term of imprisonment a long one." On one charge McDonald was-sen-tenced to three months' imprisonment, and he was convicted and dis* charged on the others.