BORROWED A CAR

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 215, 11 September 1945, Page 2

BORROWED A CAR

FARM LABOURER GAOLED

When he twice missed the bus for Thames last month,. Clive Walter Allen brought a lot .of trouble upon himself—a period in hospital and a term in prison.

Allen (29), a farm labourer, came before Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully converting a motor car valued at £350 to his own use.

Senior-Detective Trethewey said the motor car was taken from the yard at the rear of an Otahuhu hotel between 3 and 3.30 p.m. on August 27. Shortly before 4 o'clock the car was involved in a collision with a truck at Papakura. Allen, who was driving, was injured and was. removed to the Auckland Hospital, being discharged last Saturday. The car, which was insured for £140, was totally, destroyed. Allen told the police he had missed the bus leaving Auckland for Thames that day and had gone to Otahuhu, where he took the car wifh the idea of catching the bus.

"I must again draw your Worship's attention to. the prevalence' of this class of offence," added Mr Trethewey. "There is still no decrease in the number coming before this Court. Allen has convictions for theft in 1943 and 1945."

Mr. Jenkins said Allen sustained a broken nose and three fractured ribs. No doubt he would have to meet a claim concerning the damage done to the car, which he had taken after missing the Thames bus on the Saturday and Monday. A sentence of three months' imprisonment with hard labour was passed.