LED INTO CRIME
THEN BLACKMAILED YOUTH GETS PROBATION"
A story of a young man who was led into crime "by another, and then blackmailed to make Mm part with his share of the proceeds was related by Mr. L. K. Wilson in the Supreme Court, to-day, when David Lawrence Atkinson and "William George Pemberton appeared for sentence for breaking and Qfl':ering and theft. . Atkinson, said. Mr. Wilson, was 20 years of age. Although hardly fittedto make his way in the world, he left his home a short time ago and went to Napier, where he did his best to keep himself going. He fell in with the other prisoner, and it appeared that he was influenced into taking part in 'a burglary. Pcmberton, after receiving his share of the proceeds, blackmailed Atkinson, threatening to expose him. Atkinson had made a clean breast of tne matter' to the police, and his demeanour had suggested thaF he would have given himself up in any case. In passing sentence, Mr. Justice Ostler said that the Probation Officer's report in Pomberton's case was a particularly bad one. He was undoubtedly the ringleader in the escapade. He got £26 as his share of the proceeds and spent the money in indecent haste, and then ho was impudent and greedy enough to extract money from Atkinson by threatening to expose him for the crime ho had led him into. Pembcrton was ordered to be detained in a Borstal institution for a period not exceeding three years. His Honour considered that Atkinsu.t was the weaker vessel. Where there was a chance 'of probation being successful he was always glad to extend its benefits. Atkinson was admitted to probation for two years, a special condition being that he made restitution and paid the costs of the prosecution, a total of £12 11s, within six months.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 147, 19 December 1930, Page 13
Word Count
307LED INTO CRIME Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 147, 19 December 1930, Page 13
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