TWO YEARS’ GAOL

Press, Volume C, Issue 29638, 7 October 1961, Page 14

TWO YEARS’ GAOL

Prisoner Warned By Judge John Victor McGuire, aged 35, a theatrical employer, was sent to gaol for two years by Mr Justice Richmond in the Supreme Court yesterday on three charges involving theft and the possession of housebreaking implements. “I came into court with half a mind to sentence you to preventive detention” (from three to 14 years’ gaol), said his Honour. “Your future is in your own hands. You are fully aware of what will happen next time, if there is a next time.” McGuire was sentenced to two years’ gaol on a charge of housebreaking and theft; one year’s gaol for having possession of housebreaking implements with intent to commit a crime, and six months’ gaol for the theft of a travelling clock, the sfentences to be served concurrently. Mr N. W. Williamson appeared for the Crown and Mr B. J. Drake for McGuire, who had been committed to the Supreme Court for sentence after being convicted in the lower Court.

The prisoner had a long list of previous convictions, some of them for offences committed in Australia, but he appeared to be a petty sneak thief rather than a person who damaged property by breaking in, said Mr Drake.

“The prisoner’s housebreaking implements are various forms of skeleton keys. He has never been convicted of a crime of violence and has never committed crimes against the person.’’ Counsel said it was McGuire’s first appearance in the Supreme Court of New Zealand and this was the first occasion on which he had been told he was qualified for preventive detention. He now knew what would happen to him if he offended again and that knowledge would be a great deterrent. Counsel asked the Court to impose a finite sentence.