THREE YEARS’ GAOL

Press, Volume C, Issue 29680, 25 November 1961, Page 15

THREE YEARS’ GAOL

“Last Chance” For Prisoner

William John Thompson, aged 31, whom his counsel (Mr L. G Holder) said had spent virtually seven of the last 10 years in prison, was gaoled for a further three years when he appeared for sentence in the Supreme Court yesterday. The accused had pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court earlier this month to

charges of shopbreaking and theft, counting-house breaking and theft, and car conversion. The Magistrate declined jurisdiction because of the accused’s record, and committed him to the Supreme Court for sentence.

In imposing sentence. Mr Justice Macarthur said he proposed to give the accused his last chance, and that if he appeared before a court again in future he was certain to receive an indeterminate sentence of preventive detention (up to 14 years’ gaol). On each of the breaking and entering charges, terms of three years’ gaol were imposed, rnd the accused was gaoled for two years on the car conversion charge. All terms are to be concurrent. Mr Holder said the accused had a blameless record until the age of 21. He had an unfortunate start in life with the death of his parents, and an early injury. Mr Holder submitted that because of the accused's age. the possibility of his marrying, and the fact that he had made plans to settle down into a permanent job, he should be given a finite prison term followed by strict supervision. There was a chance that he could yet be saved from the clutches of preventive detection. Mr Holder said.

Mr CM. Roper made no submissions for the Crown. His Honour referred to a letter from the Secretary of Justice which stated that the accused had offended con?A?. ent,y an<i seriously since 1951 and had continued to offend in spite of two heavy gaol terms. However, he was a young man and might still possibly be diverted crime by a finite term.