Judge praises traffic officer

Press, 4 November 1986, Page 38

Judge praises traffic officer

PA Levin A traffic officer who brought to a halt a car from which an offender had jumped while it was still moving was commended by Judge Laing in the District Court at Levin. The Judge said Traffic Officer Bruce Lyons had put his own life at risk. The officer was not called on to endanger himself to that extent and he was to be commended for what he did. He sentenced Robert Nattie Albert, aged 18, unemployed, of Levin, to three months imprisonment on charges of breaking and entering, theft, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and driving dangerously. Albert was also disqualified from driving for six months. The Court was told that the incident involving a stolen vehicle arose when it was seen in Prouse Street, Levin, without lights and was chased by traffic officers including Mr Lyons, of Waikanae. Albert jumped from the car, an automatic, and it continued to move and gain speed. Traffic officer Lyons managed to get into the vehicle and stop it before it could hit parked vehicles.