MAN GAOLED FOR FIVE YEARS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28840, 10 March 1959, Page 22

MAN GAOLED FOR FIVE YEARS

Two Youths Sent To Borstal

“The primary purpose of sentencing you is to protect the community from your depredations,” Mr Justice Adams told William Edward Redditt, aged 23, when sentencing him to five years’ imprisonment in the Supreme Court yesterday on 11 charges of countinghouse breaking and car conversion. Noel James Quirke and Graham William Dempsey, both aged 18, who were convicted with Redditt in the Magistrate’s Court on several joint charges, were each sentenced to Borstal training. Redditt had a long list of offences but this was only the third time he had appeared for sentence, said his counsel, Mr A. D. Holland. He had beetgne resentful because on his first appearance in Court at the age of 17 he bad not been granted probation.

Although the probation officer had suggested that Redditt was not a suitable case for corrective training, he should be given this sentence because of his youth. It could not be said that he had led the other youths into a career of crime as it appeared they had already embarked on this career when he met them, said counsel. Quirke had committed 19 offences between November 8 and January 22, said Mr J. B. Stringer. He had the benefit of a good home and upbringing and it was difficult to explain why he should suddenly embark on a career of, crime. As an apprentice in the motor trade he had been a skilful and honest worker, but had started committing crimes after becoming associated with young men with bad records. His most foolish offence was escaping from custody, although he had no intention of remaining at large. Adoctor had described Quirke as having a “compulsive addiction to motor-cars.” On five, of the eight occasions, when he had taken cars he had done so purely for the purpose of having a ride, said Mr Stringer. Asking for Quirke to be released on probation, counsel said it was unlikely that Quirke's former associates would be free for him to associate with. Use Of Explosives For the Crown, Mr C. M. Roper said in seven of the nine premises entered by Redditt explosives had been used; he had also introduced less experienced criminals to the use of explosives. There had been nothing in Quirke's home life to encourage him in a life of crime. He had

apparently been under the illusion that on any first offence—no matter how serious—the Court automatically granted probation. Dempsey was not represented by counsel.

His Honour said that 28 crimes had been committed by one or more of the three men. Dempsey had been involved on at least eight occasions. He had been present when explosives were used to blow open safes. Quirke had committed such a large number of grave offences that he had to be sent to Borstal. His Honour said that Redditt had not only committed crimes but had led others into crime. The Courts had been striving for some time to discourage this type of offence. But for his age Redditt would have received a more severe sentence.