Police armourer stole revolvers

Press, 12 July 1980, Page 4

Police armourer stole revolvers

A police armourer who stole 13 police revolvers had let “the team’’ and society down in a serious manner, Judge Bate has said in the District Court at Wellington. “Society is entitled to expect scrupulous honesty among people in the police,” he said, in sentencing Francis Leslie Scelley, aged 53, an armourer. to eight months periodic detention. Scelley pleaded guilty last week to a charge of thq theft of 13 revolvers between June 1 and 18. He was represented by Mr J. Porter. Mr Porter presented a “glowing testimonial from his commanding officer,” to the court which referred toan “unblemished

record of conduct” over 17 years. The pistols involved in the charge were very old weapons and collectors’ items. Ammunition for them was not freely available. The person who approached Scelley about the weapons was a licensed fiiearms collector. At first Scelley flatly refused to give him any pistols. When approached the second time. Scelley was in severe financial difficulties and at the time was being sued in the civil court. At the time of the approach the police had a number of weapons which were to be destroyed by being dumped in Cook Strait.