‘Layabouts’ given Borstal

Press, 23 February 1978, Page 7

‘Layabouts’ given Borstal

Two youths who attacked, a 63-year-old man, knocking! out five of his teeth and' causing a gash to his lip! which required more than a dozen stitches, were des-[ cribed by Mr Justice Casey; in the Supreme Court! yesterday as •’unpleasant layabouts and small-time! criminals.’' His Honour sentenced Grant Sidney Bradley, aged 18. a knife hand, and Mark: Richard Whittaker, aged 17, i unemployed. to Borstal training on a joint charge of! assaulting Thomas Henry;

■ Waters with intent to rob oni I December 16. | They pleaded guilty to the i charge of aggravated robi bery in the Magistrate’s Court and were committed [to the Supreme Court for sentence. Mr M. J. Glue appeared for Bradley. Mr K. R. Ayers for Whittaker, and Mr G. K,| Panckhurst for the Crown, j Evidence was given at the,; taking of depositions that; iafter drinking two bottles of; .bourbon Bradley. Whittaker! and a boy, aged 15, drove) around the town looking for' i someone to rob. Outside the'

i dry cleaning shop in the Fendalton Mall they saw Mr Waters, the manager, taking the day’s takings from the til). Mr Waters was attacked from behind and was hit several times with what was believed to be an iron bar. [After finding only . small! ' change left in the till the; (Youths drove off. His Honour said that! [Bradley and Whittaker! [played a prominent part ini [ overpowering Mr Waters. I i While one held him down! 1 the other struck him with !

what had been described as either an iron bar or a tube. Whatever it was it was lethal enough to knock out five of the man’s teeth and caused an injury which required a considerable number of stitches.

“.You have both built up a career suggesting that you are heading to a fife of being unpleasant layabouts and small-time criminals. There is nothing much to be proud of in what you have done. But for your age I would be sending the pair of you to prison for a long time,” his Honour said.