Three Youths Sentenced For Car Conversion

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30146, 1 June 1963, Page 18

Three Youths Sentenced For Car Conversion

Terms of probation, fines ano payment of restitution were imposed on three youths aged 15 and 16 who appeared before Mr E S J Crutchley S M.. in the Christchurch Children's Court yesterday for sentence on charges involving property mostly motor vehicles, worth nearly £13.000. A 15-year-old boy representec by Mr B J. Drake was placed under supervision for three years The supervision could be changed to probation if the welfare officer’s report was favourable at the end of an initial period the Magistrate said He was fined £4O and o-dered to make restitution of £42 12s, in payments to be directed by the Child Welfare Officer He was disqualified from holding a driving licence for two years, with his conviction to be endorsed on any licence tor another year There were a large number of charges, some of them serious and damage had been done to property said the Magistrate “For the sake of others who might be inclined to do as you did you should go to Borstal" he said.

"However, you have a good work record, your employer thinks well of you. and you

seem ready to prepare yourself for your future job. I will give you this one chance ”

The second youth, aged 16 (Mr N D. Thomson), also seemed to be a good worker who had not caused concern previously, said the Magistrate

“If 1 can see there is any chance of your reforming yourself it is in the interests of the community as well as yourself that I give you that chance However, you are in the position where you cannot afford to commit one single offence.” he said He imposed a fine of £lOO and ordered restitution of £42 12s. to be paid as directed by the probation officer during a two-year term of probation The youth was disqualified from holding a driver's licence for two years, with a further year's endorsement of licence.

Mi P Straubel. for the third offender, also aged 16. said that there had been no record of misbehaviour until recently. and the youth had been more a follower than a leader in the series of offences listed The period spent in custody had been a severe shock, and the youth did not want to repeat such an experience

“You are not entitled to probation or supervision just because this is your first offence." the Magistrate said. “The Court has a duty o deter other people from committing such offence®

“If you are going to come back here in a month or so on another charge I might as well send you to Borstal now You are pretty close to the dividing Line.” He imposed a term of two years’ probation, a £4O fine, and the payment of £42 12s restitution, with two years' disqualification from holding a driving licence, and a further year’s endorsement