HABITUAL CRIMINAL

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 106, 7 May 1931, Page 5

HABITUAL CRIMINAL

MAN'S BAD RECORD

PROTECTION OF YOUTH

In addition to being sentenced to the maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment, on a charge of attempted indecent assault on a male, on which lie had been found guilty, Frank Vincent Funi, aged 64, was declared an habitual criminal by Mr. Justice Reed in the Supreme Court yes.terday afternoon. '

Mr. P. Keesing, who appeared for Funi, said that in,view of the prisoner's list of previous convictions , for similar offences and the abominable nature of the offence, it appeared to him that his only responsibility was to see that Funi was not sentenced to more than the maximum penalty prescribed. His Honour: "The maximum penalty is two years, but he, is going to get more than, that." . , Mr.' Keesing referred to the .prisoner s age, and said that he appeared to be iniorrigible as regards the class of offence of which he had been found guilty. Funi admitted-to his Honour that in 1912 he-was sentenced, to five years' imprisonment on each of four charges of indecently assaulting males, the sentences being cumulative, and that in ; 1922 on two similar charges he was : sentenced in New South Wales to two years' imprisonment. "It:is necessary that the youth of this country should be protected from men of your type," said his Honour in passing sentence. "The moral effect that is produced upon a young fellow in being taught the sort of thing you indulge in might be very great indeed. It might completely ruin a youth for life. Consequently, I think it is necessary to see, as far as it is possible for me to do it, that you are removed from the position in which you can do this sort of thing."

His Honour then passed sentence,