RECEIVED STOLEN GOODS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27471, 4 October 1954, Page 12

RECEIVED STOLEN GOODS

MAN SENT TO PRISON FOR 18 MONTHS SECOND ACCUSED FINED £2OO (New Zealand Press Association) TAIHAPE, October 2. “You are. the type who will resort to any sharp practice rather than do an honest day’s work. It is quite c*ear that you are chiefly responsible for the receiving of these stolen goods in the first instance,” said Mr S. S Preston, S.M., when he sentenced Harold Jones, a labourer, of Utiku, to 18 months’ imprisonment with hard labour on a charge of/receiving stolen goods to the value of £256 5s Bd. The stolen property came from shopbreaking at Bulls, Te Aroha, and Matamata. Mr R. C, Ongley appeared for Jones, and entered a plea of guilty. In the dock with Jones were Frederick Alfred Drew, a former police constable, and Heath Ernest Inwood, also implicated in the offences. Drew was fined £2OO and ordered to pay £8 7s as restitution. Inwood was admitted to probation for two years and ordered to pay £l2 10s restitution for damage to stolen radio sets. Continuing his comment on the case, and dealing with Jones, the-Magistrate said: “These offences are very serious. It is clear that Jones is the most culpable of the three. There is not one redeeming feature so far as he is concerned. “You have previous convictions. Jones,” said the Magistrate, “but apart from bookmaking none is serious. On the bookmaking charge you wbre given £lOO to pay your fine, yet you went to another man and got another £lOO on the plea that you would go to gaol if the fine was not paid. You got that money by almost false pretences.” Addressing Drew, the Magistrate said: “The next most culpable person is Drew. He is another man who has preferred to make money the easy way. You were a member of the Police Force, and you were dismissed from that service. But for your health I would have no hesitation in sending you to prison. “You are 50 years of age and you have been in the Police Force. You knew what risks you were taking, and I want to make it clear that the Court takes a very serious view of this offence,” said the Magistrate.