Couple Given Borstal For Fraud and Forgery

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29830, 24 May 1962, Page 19

Couple Given Borstal For Fraud and Forgery

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 23. Although they were the parents of a four-month-old baby, he would not let that deter him from the action he proposed to take, Mr J. F. Keane, S.M., told a young married couple in the Magistrate's Court at Lower Hutt. Bruce William Jennings, aged 20 driver, and Heather Jean Jennings. aged 17, housewife, were convicted and sentenced to Borstal training on a joint charge of obtaining £2OO by false pretences and one separate charge each of forgery.

“One matter which concerns me—which I thought would steady you both —is that you have a four-month-old baby, but you seem to regard that as an immunity from punishment." the Magistrate told the couple

"When I consider that, on your own admission to the probation officer, you have already capital.sed on your first year's family benefit and used it to pay board and rental car accounts, it shows that you have a complete lack of responsibility as far as your child is concerned. “The recent history of both

of you,” sai(j Mr Keane, “is one of using rental cars, living on relatives without paying board and travelling around on the proceeds of crime.

"Bruce Jennings has in recent months been dismissed from work on a number of occasions because of absenteeism and the lack of an honest attempt to wbrk " The Magistrate said arrangements would be made for the care of the child.