TAXI DRIVER'S THEFT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 238, 8 October 1945, Page 6

TAXI DRIVER'S THEFT

PRISON TERM IMPOSED The theft of a box of tools valued at £48 on October 6 was admitted by Thomas Ashby (29), a taxi driver who appeared in the Police Court this morning. Senior-Detective Trethewey said Ashby borrowed complainant's car on Saturday and when it was returned it was found that a box of tools was missing. Yesterday Detective Cromwell interviewed Ashby, who admitted the theft, the tools being found in a shed at his house. Ashby explained that he was drunk, but Mr Trethewey said he could not have been in that condition otherwise complainant would not have lent him his car. Ashby had previously been in trouble. Mr. George Skelton, who represented the accused, said Ashby was married and had one child. As was the case with a previous offence drink was the cause of the trouble' On Saturday Ashby and the complainant had been drinking in the city, Ashby borrowing the car to take home some beer and while the worse for liquor he took the box of tools from the car. Counsel said it was a typical drunken act as Ashby had no intention of stealing the tools Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., imposed a sentence of three months' imprisonment. *