IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO MONTHS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22269, 7 December 1937, Page 7

IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO MONTHS

INTOXICATED IN CHARGE OF CAR Two months' imprisonment was the punishment imposed on Joseph Robinson, in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, by Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., for a second conviction of being intoxicated in charge of a car, within about three weeks. Robinson was declared unfit to hold a licence for four years. He was represented by Mr A. N. Mackay. Sub-Inspector D. A. Mac Lean said that Robinson had had a collision at the corner of Salisbury and Colombo streets on Saturday evening when the car he had been driving had been travelling about 30 or 35 miles an hour. A large crowd had collected, but Robinson had disappeared, and had later been found by the police hiding in a vacant section. When examined at the police station by Dr. Sheffield, Robinson was certified as drunk and not fit to be in charge of any vehicle. It had been his second lapse within a few days, as he had been convicted of a similar offence" on November 15, and fined £6. „ Mr Mackay said that this was the first time that Robinson had driven a car since his licence had been taken away. Someone else had driven him to a friend's place, but after some beer and stout he had been foolish enough to take the wheel on the return home. The car with which he had collided had been coming on his left and he had thought that he had the right-of-way. He was the proprietor of a one-man bootshop and his business would disappear if he was sent to prison. "For some time this class of offence has been considered serious even for first offenders, and other Magistrates are sending culprits to prison without the option of a fine. It may be essential, if not imperative, that I should do the same thing," said Mr Levvey. "When, however, a man has had one warning, 6ne conviction, and if I may say so, one escape, no Court could treat him leniently." Robinson was sentenced to imprisonment for two months, and was declared unfit to hold another driving licence for four years. On charges of breaking his prohibition order, driving without a licence and of failing to carry a warrant of fitness, he was convicted and discharged.