Jail for giving false name

Press, 15 February 1985, Page 9

Jail for giving false name

Nine months jail was imposed in the High Court yesterday on a man, aged 21, whom Mr Justice Holland said had, by giving a false name when apfirehended for driving ofences, caused a summons to be sent to that person and then a warrant issued for his arrest.

Gary Adams had been committed to the High Court for sentence after having pleaded guilty in the District Court to charges of attempting to defeat the course of justice, on November 1 and again on December 14 last year. The first offence related to his giving a false name when stopped and asked to give a blood sample, and the second occasion was when a constable called on him and he gave a different false name. In imposing concurrent sentences of nine months jail on each charge, his Honour ordered the termination of sentences of five months periodic detention imposed earlier in the day in the District Court when Adams appeared for sentence on charges of driving while disqualified, and driving when he had an excessive blood-alcohol level, on November 1.

Disqualification of Adams’s driver’s licence, imposed in the District Court, still applies. Mr G. R. Lascelles, for Adams, submitted in relation to the charges of attempting to defeat the course of justice that he had foolishly persisted with giving false details after his initial offence. He sought a term of non-residential periodic detention, as imposed in the District Court, saying that the defendant

had improved in his attitude and had sold his car.

Mr B. M. Stanaway, for the Crown, said a good deal of trouble had been caused the police by the defendant’s actions. He had given the names of existing persons. His Honour said that giving false names was becoming a relatively common offence and a deterrent sentence had to be considered. The initial offence in giving a false name had been aggravated by the defendant’s then giving another false name when a constable called in relation to the original matter. This indicated deliberate defiance of the authorities or an attitude that showed no recognition of his responsibilities as a citizen.