THEFT AND CAR CONVERSION

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27148, 18 September 1953, Page 11

THEFT AND CAR CONVERSION

MAN SENTENCED ON 22 CHARGES

TOTAL OF THREE YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT

Three years’ imprisonment with hard labour on 22 charges of theft, breaking and entering and theft tad conversion of motor vehicles was the sentence imposed by Mr Rex C. Abernethy, S.M., on Kenneth Maxwell Ward, in the Magistrate’s Court, yesterday. Ward was remanded for sen* tence of 20 charges on September . 10, but two more charges, one of theft and the other of breaking, entering tad theft, were brought against him yesterday. He pleaded guilty to both. The two new charges were that oh August 16 at Springfield, Ward stole tools, petrol, and other goods to a total value of £l3 6s, the property-of ' Eric McKinley Gardner, and that on June 20 at Omaio he broke and entered the shop of Skinner and Lane and committed theft.

Detective Sergeant G. W. Alty said that the accused admitted driving a converted car through Omaio, stopping at the shop and after breaking in, stealing money and goods. None of these had been recovered, but the goods taken from Springfield with the exception of the petrol, had been recovered.

“You have gone through the country like a locust,” said the Magistrate. “You are a young man of 25, mhrried with a child and yqu have a list here which is just staggering. If you have any sense at aft you will do a bit of thinking during the time you spend in gaol.” The individual penalty for each Of the 22 charges was read by the Magistrate. They varied from three months for charges such as theft of money and attempted conversion of motor vehicles to three years for breaking, and entering and theft. Altogether eight terms each of three years, eight of one year, two of six months, and four of three months* were imposed by the Magistrate, but all the sentences were concurrent so that Ward would, altogether, serve three years’ imprisonment with hard labour.