SUPREME COURT

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25182, 13 May 1947, Page 5

SUPREME COURT

PRISONERS SENTENCED "He has an appalling record for a man of his years and appearance. 1 don’t know that I should give him any further chances as he qualified long ago to be declared an habitual criminal. He constituted himself a public enemy and seems to like it These smart fellows who think they can live without working, by robbing other people—well, society must protect itself,’ said Mr Justice Fleming, in the Supreme Court yesterday, sentencing Jeffrey Corbett, aged 26. to two years imprisonment with hard labour, when he appeared for sentence on a charge of stealing a cai .which he disguised as a spdrts model Corbett’s record showed that he had appeared in Court on 22 occasions for theft and other serious charges, said his Honour

Mr E. M Hay, who appeared tot Corbett said his client had “quite a sizeable list,” but this was his first appearance in the Supreme Court The trouble could be attributed partly to a lack of family life in his youth. His last offence had been in 1943 when he had been sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment and had served 13 months It would be seen, ne said that Corbett had been out of trouble toi two years His Honour: Out of trouble or out of sight? Mr Hay. Out ot trouble, 1 submit. He added that he considered a short, sharp sentence would be effective. “If he comes before any judge again, I'm sure he knows what to expect.” said his Honour imposing sentence Fined £lOO for Negligent Driving

A fine ot £lOO was imposed on Harvey Francis Page, who appeared for sentence on a charge of negligent driving causing Di A L Haslam, who represented Page, said that his client had recently been appointed assistant engineer to' a local body and had received excellent reports from many quarters. His conduct In every respect was exemplary and he had been driving for 20 years without an accident except for the one from which the charge arose He had been frank with the police, said Dr. Haslam, asking for the utmost leniency as recommended by the jury

Passing sentence, nis Honour said that he could not help coming to the conclusion that it the prisoner had not been so truthful he would not have been convicted He would not sentence the man to imprisonment but at the same time, the offence was one which, in the public interest, he could not treat lightly. The prisoner was allowed two months to pay the fine Imprisoned for Theft William Davey (Mr D. J. Hewitt), aged 34, was sentenced to six months* imprisonment on a charge of theft. Mr Hewitt said his client had been tn trouble before over petty thefts. He had showed signs of penitence and, because of this, probation might be granted. His Honour remarked that the prisoner had been accused of seven petty thefts and deserved a long term of imprisonment. but he would give him a chance. Forger Sentenced

“1 realise that 1 have done a stupid thing. It was absurd to try to buck against the law. and when my sentence is served I will do my best to become a good citizen,” said Francis Lewis Gibson, who was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. which will begin at the expiry of the term of 12 months he is serving at present He was convicted of two charges of forgery He said he had served three weeks of a term of 12 months imposed in the Magistrate’s Court, and admitted that several charges of theft had been made against him recently To his Honour, Gibson said that drink was to blame for his trouble. Terms at Borstal Two youths, Albert Walter Gilling and Kenneth Maxwell Ward, both convicted of three charges of breaking, entering, and theft, were given two years at a borstal institution, the term to be concurrent with the one they are serving at present. False Pretences and Theft Alfred 1 Howard, a cook, was admitted to probation tor two years on two charges of theft and one of false pretences If it were not for drink; the prisoner would be a fine worker, said his Honour, ordering Howard to pay back a cheque Admitted to Probation "This man is just a child—considering all things he has really been remarkably good,” said his Honour, admitting to probation for a year Malcolm Arthur Mundy (Mr D. J Hewitt), who was convicted of breaking into a shop and committing theft. A condition of the probation was that he accept work in the country. Mr Hewitt said that the prisoner had been in and out of mental institutions since he was 12 years old, and had made several escapes. His background was a most unfortunate one, and it was a case where the Court could well see what it could do for the prisoner instead, of what it could do to him Six Months’ Imprisonment Charles Stanton Turner (Mr T. A. Gresson), (or indecently assaulting a male, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.