A YEAR’S REFORMATIVE DETENTION

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 72, 18 December 1928, Page 3

A YEAR’S REFORMATIVE DETENTION

» —- “SYSTEM OF FALSE PRETENCES.” A plea of guilty was entered by Douglas Arthur Fletcher Brewer, aged 32, who appeared before Mr. J. H, Salmon, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday on two changes of having obtained petrol by false pretences. Chief Detective Ward said that for some months past accused had been working in a motor service station in the city, and since November 1 had opened five accounts in different banks in the city in various names. It had been his practice to make small lodgments in the banks, after which he would procure cheque books and then issue valueless cheques. He had previously been before the Court for false pretences. Brewer's explanation was that he had not been able to get enough money, and had been struggling all the time. “The offences disclose a system of false pretences, and your previous record shows that you have indulged in the same sort of thing on previous occasions,” remarked the Magistrate, who, on the first charge, imposed a sentence of twelve months’ reformative detention. On the second charge, accused was convicted and discharged.