THEFT OF RADIO GOODS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21118, 20 March 1934, Page 7

THEFT OF RADIO GOODS

voith admitted to probation A:i order that he be Kleased mi probation for a period of two years was tiie sentence passed by hi?Honour Mr Justice Johnston m the Supreme Court yesterday mornmg on George Henry Cyril De Eoyeit on two charges of breaking and entering a warehouse and theft, and one charge cl" theft. Do Boyett was represented by Mr W. J. Sim. who said that tlie total value r:f the property involved was £B4 16s Ckl. about half of which had been recovered. The ofter.ecs were committed over a period between June 10 and the end of November. "it' 33. and all the things taken wen radio goods. Accused was mnv 1", years of age, and was 17 wlu ri the offences were committed. He lived in a very respectable home with fester parents, and his associations were generally good and satisfactory. When at school he showed exceptional ibility. and his headinastc. in a c.rliricate. -aid he had considerable ability in electrical and wireless work. Alter" leaving school he went to High School for a year and then at*' nded night elies'.s n't the Technical College, where he took u.n a live years' course in radio engineering. He showed e.rcal merit in both practical and theoretical work, and it was the pursuing of that hobby tint had really led to his present pontine. He developed an enthusiasm which reached the stage of being a mania, and. when he was faced with unemployment about the middle of 1933. he allowed that mania to cai ry him away, and he eo ncei vcel the idea of securing goods to do .-ome experimental wo 1 ';: It was folly of the worst order, bid Mr Sim st"tod that it was no! a case of a young waster stealing goods to obtain money: rather, it was the ease ef a lad ol seine mo it confronted with stagnation and unemployment, who allowed a mania to master his belter judgment. He had made every effort with the pobe" to restore the goods, and he had had a verv -evcrc lesson. He had net shown criminal tendencies ;u any time, apart from that weakness, which called tor eorroc'ion. ami if probation were granted there «eemcd little likelihood of a repetition ef the offence. Counsel respectfully submitted thai it v a« a ease in which his Honour mieh* grant probation. His Honour, addressing the accused. said ; : wa; difl'.cult to admit him to \ rebatien. bvcauss ot the i.::'r;-. oi' tilt, < lf..oee. and also be-eau-c it was not one isolated act. There ■..Li':.', huvaw v. so no redeemim, natures in the ea.-e. and thry had been mentioned hy counsel. The ditl'.cultv he had i:i granting probation was the icov that accused might assume, somehow or other, a false view of the gravity of the .-rime: but. after all. he was It!, he had ability, and apparently he had character, and. at any rate, the purpose of hi- thelts was connected with an enterpr iso arid work in which he. had achieved considerable proficiency. in ah the circumstances and considering tlv assurances ej counsel, it is Honour would order him be .vhiifcel on piohaiioii lor ;> period of 1 v.n yc.i. s on ;he ;; ual