Supreme Court GAOL FOR BURGLAR

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32613, 22 May 1971, Page 5

Supreme Court GAOL FOR BURGLAR

Twenty-fourth offence Patrick Thomas Michael Maunsell, aged 22, unemployed, was sentenced to nine months imprisonment when he appeared before Mr Justice Wilson in the Supreme Court yesterday for sentence for burgling the Riccarton Hotel. Mr K. N. Hampton, for the accused, said that Maunsell had had the good sense to plead guilty to the charge after depositions had been taken in the Magistrate’s Court. The offence had been committed after Maunsell and his cooffender had been drinking all day. Maunsell did not enter the hotel, but stood outside and took possession of the liquor and food which were passed out to him. The probation officer’s report set out a sad and depressing picture. Maunsell had a long list of serious criminal offences 24 in all. Alcohol was a problem to him and he appeared to be “institutionalised.” He had been sentenced to Borstal at the age of 15 and in the seven years since then he had had only 15 months of freedom, Mr Hampton said. “Prisoner at the bar, I’m really concerned about you,” said his Honour. “You are such a young man to be set in criminal ways. You will have to make different friends from the persons you have met in Borstal and prison. I know that is hard, but it is the only way you will be able to break away from this frightening trend. I have got to send you to gaol.”